Ernie Els proved himself the king of Wentworth yet again, adding another £1million to his bank balance and taking his record number of wins in the World Match Play Championship to a magnificent seven.

Before taking a private jet to Paris in the hope of seeing South Africa set up a Rugby World Cup final against England, Els claimed his own Argentinian scalp to clinch yet another title.

Three days before his 38th birthday, the Johannesburg-born and Wentworth-based golfer was ahead throughout against Angel Cabrera and finally broke his 2007 duck with a six and four victory over the player known as ‘El Pato’ (The Duck).

“I wish I could move Wentworth around the world with me,” he said on receiving the trophy.

“It’s absolutely a dream come true. In my wildest dreams, I would not have dreamt I could win it seven times.

“A certain Mr Woods was not here this week, thank goodness, but I’ve had a great week. My putting saved me in the semi-final (against Henrik Stenson) and for some reason today it was all there.”

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Justin Leonard can stop tinkering with his swing.

Putting a series of big changes to the ultimate test Sunday, Leonard won the Texas Open for the third time, beating Jesper Parnevik with a 10-foot birdie putt on the third hole of a playoff.

“There’s no better way to validate [the changes] than to come out and win a golf tournament like this,” Leonard said.

Leonard, also the 2000 and ‘01 winner at LaCantera Golf Club Resort Course, closed with a 5-under 65 to match Parnevik at 19-under 261. Parnevik, who opened with a 61 and led after each of the first three rounds, finished with a 69.

Earlier this year, Leonard switched instructors from Butch Harmon to his old coach Randy Smith. He also changed caddies and is trying to move to a home closer to Royal Oaks Country Club, his old club in Dallas.

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Nick Dougherty overcame an attack of the nerves to capture his second European Tour title in the £2.5million Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews.

While Irish teenager Rory McIlroy all but clinched his tour card for next season in only his second event as a professional by finishing third, 25-year-old Dougherty closed with a one-under-par 71 for an 18-under aggregate of 270 and won the £392,368 first prize by two shots from compatriot Justin Rose.

Dougherty, who claimed his maiden title in the 2005 Caltex Masters in Singapore, had led by three strokes heading into the final day’s play over the Old Course.

But the Liverpudlian saw that advantage swiftly disintegrate as he three-putted the first for a bogey and put his tee shot at the second into a bunker for another bogey.

Dougherty regained his composure and reeled off a trio of birdies from the fifth to keep his nose in front and, despite the menacing advances of Rose, McIlroy, Ernie Els and Paul Lawrie, held on to secure the biggest triumph of his career.

“This is a life-changing win for me but I felt very nervous at the start of the day,” admitted Dougherty, who jumps to the top of the European Ryder Cup points table.

“I’ve been in this position before and it’s not gone right but I spoke to my fitness coach, Ron Cuthbert, before going out and he told me to use the nerves as a positive thing.

“He said if I wasn’t nervous it would be a bad thing and he told me to enjoy these moments. He was a real help.

“I got off to a pretty bad start but I trusted myself and my ability. I had some big players, like Ernie and Justin, chasing me but I got the job done. This is the win I’ve been after for two years and I’m very proud of myself.”

Runner-up Rose, who closed the gap on Padraig Harrington in the race for the Order of Merit title after pocketing a consolation prize of £261,577, saw his spirited challenge finally thwarted with a bogey at the 17th on his way to a 69.

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Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, announced today changes to four holes, Nos. 1, 7, 9 and 11, for the 2008 Masters. In addition, other modifications were made on the grounds.

“Refinements to the golf course and grounds have been made almost every year since the Tournament’s inception and this year was no exception,” Payne said. “Overall, we are happy with the golf course. We think last year’s exceptionally high scores were an anomaly due to the frigid, windy weather.”

The changes for the 2008 Masters are:

Hole No. 1: Ten yards were added to the front of the Masters tee providing more flexibility in the event of a strong northwest wind. Back of the tee was reduced to ease patron movement. Masters scorecard remains 455 yards.

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