Ernie Els was handed the second biggest cheque in golf at Wentworth on Sunday after a record-equalling fifth World Match Play title that will also be remembered for something runner-up Thomas Bjorn did.

The Dane earned himself a £37,000 Toyota Land Cruiser for a hole-in-one at the 179-yard 14th, only the third ace in the event's 40-year history and the first in a final.

It was a dramatic way to keep their match alive - he was five down with five to play at the time - but 10 minutes later Els completed a four and three victory with a curling 25-foot birdie putt.

Thanks to new sponsors HSBC, who quadrupled the first prize, the 34-year-old South African became £1million richer, while Bjorn earned a career-best £400,000 reward in addition to his unexpected prize.

The other holes-in-one were by Isao Aoki at the second in 1979 - he was given a house at Gleneagles for it - and Brian Barnes at the 10th two years later.

By lifting a trophy now named in memory of event founder Mark McCormack, who died in May, Els joined compatriot Gary Player and Spain's Seve Ballesteros as a five-time winner. It was also his seventh success of the season.

"To join that illustrious group is quite nice," said Els, who like Bjorn lives close to the West Course.

"It's tough playing such a big match against a good friend - but I'm not complaining at the moment."

The only title worth more is the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa with its two million dollar prize. And Els is the current holder of that as well.

Bjorn was disappointed not to win, but having originally been first reserve and only called into the field when Tiger Woods withdrew he will take away good memories - especially of his ace.

He lost four of the first eight holes, got back to only one down when Els messed up the 12th, 14th and 15th, but then allowed the pendulum to swing back.

He was bunkered at the 16th and bogeyed, then could not match the world number twos chip-and-putt birdie on the 571-yard 17th.

After birdie fours from both men at the 18th and 22nd Els returned to four-up on the next when Bjorn chipped into a bunker. And that turned to five after a shocking drive deep into the trees on the 452-yard 27th.

Els did not even hit a second shot on that hole before he was conceded it, then won the next with a par as his opponent, looking ever more tired, missed another green.

He did summon the energy to eagle the 30th, holing from 20 feet, and then came the hole-in-one, but Els wasted no time reminding everybody who was boss.

"The right guy won," said Bjorn. "I didn't hole the putts I needed to, but it's no shame to lose to this guy."

Bjorn knew he was up against it, not just because of how good Els is, but because he had to play in Thursday's first round while the holder and the three other top seeds rested.

Since 1981 only three players - Ian Woosnam (twice), Corey Pavin and Vijay Singh - have won the title by coming through four matches.

Bjorn had beaten Masters runner-up Len Mattiace, Masters champion Mike Weir and Open champion Ben Curtis, so it was still a good week's work. But it ended with a fourth runners-up finish of the season.

It won't hurt as much, of course, as the Open in July, where he led by three with four holes to play and then went bogey, double-bogey, bogey. That will hurt until he lands his first major.

He will not begrudge Els his record either. Their families are close friends, daughters Samantha and Filippa even being in the same reception class at a primary school near Wentworth.

And when Bjorn suffered his Sandwich heartache Els was one of the first on the telephone to him, telling him he had proved himself capable of winning a major one day. "It meant a lot," said the 32-year-old.

Els was disappointed to have gone through the year without adding to his major collection, but six other victories - four on the European tour and two right at the start of the US Tour season - have left him content with 2003.

Also very happy was Belgian sports psychologist Jos Vanstiphout. He works with both finalists and will be handsomely rewarded for his words of wisdom.

This weekend also saw Els land the European Order of Merit title once Darren Clarke decided not to play this coming week's Madrid Open. That spares him the need to go to the Volvo Masters to hit the one shot which would have sealed it.

"I guess it was this season or never because I'm likely to be playing fewer events from now on," he said. "It's never been a big goal of mine, but it's still very special. It's a great thing to achieve and I can always look back on it."

It keeps the money list crown in South African hands. Retief Goosen won it the two previous seasons.