Florida - Ernie Els felt relief more than exhilaration after beating his house guest, South African countryman Charl Schwartzel, to win the $8.5 million CA Championship by four strokes on Sunday.

"This means so much. I didn’t think it was ever going to happen again," Els said after producing a bogey-free, six-under-par 66 final round to end a two-year victory drought.

Els and Schwartzel turned the World Golf Championships event into a South African showdown in a demanding breeze at Doral’s Blue Monster.

They started the final round tied and although Els never trailed, he took a long time to put away his much younger countryman, the final duo being level with eight holes remaining.

But the 14th hole proved pivotal as Els sank a 25-foot par-saving putt to retain a one-shot lead before pulling away down the stretch for a victory that was not quite as comfortable as the final margin suggests.

Els finished at 18-under 270 with Schwartzel runner-up on 14-under after a final-round 70. Irishman Padraig Harrington, German Martin Kaymer and American Matt Kuchar tied for third, three shots further back.

Els collected $1.4 million for his second WGC victory, his 17th on the PGA Tour, but he was not in a mood to make any bold predictions of future glory.

"I said too much last time I won," continued Els, who has blown a few tournaments in the past couple of years.

"I was a bit too cocky. I want to enjoy this one. This took so much work to win. The older you get, the tougher it becomes to win. I’m 40 years old and it feels like I had so many chances in my 20s and didn’t take them.

"I was just different today. I can‘t explain it (but) I felt I wasn‘t going to mess up badly. I wish I felt like this all the time. I’ll just have a bit more confidence now, I’m sure."

Els felt "surreal" playing with 25-year-old Schwartzel, who was a house guest at his Florida estate last week and will be again this week.

"I felt awkward because this young kid, he’s still like a 15-year-old in my eyes. It was a little different, but I think both of us were very professional today.

"Obviously I’m glad I won and I’m glad he finished second (because) he’s got his tour card over here now."

Schwartzel seemed satisfied with second.

"It just shows me I can play against the best in the world," he said. "All credit to Ernie. He played flawless golf.

"Both of us gave it our all. He just played a bit better."

Els now has his sight firmly set on next month’s Masters. He has won three majors, but never at Augusta, where he has come close to claiming a green jacket more often than he cares to remember.

"Next week I’m going to work hard again," he said. "I’ve got to get these things I’m working on drilled a bit more and be really comfortable with it and get my ball flight drilled for Augusta.

"But you know, two years ago when I won (the Honda Classic) I got all carried away and thought I was going to win Augusta."

There will be no bold predictions this time. Instead, Els will let his clubs do the talking.

Leading final-round scores on Sunday from the $8.5 million World Golf Championships CA Championship at Doral (USA unless noted):

270 - Ernie Els (RSA) 68-66-70-66

274 - Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 67-70-67-70

277 - Matt Kuchar 71-71-67-68, Martin Kaymer (GER) 70-72-69, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 70-68-67-72

278 - Alistair Presnell (AUS) 72-70-72-64, Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 72-69-69-68, Graeme McDowell (NIR) 74-68-70-66, Paul Casey (GBR) 69-72-68-69, Bill Haas 71-66-70-71

279 - John Senden (AUS) 69-70-71-69, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 68-71-70-70, Robert Allenby (AUS) 68-67-71-73

280 - Phil Mickelson 71-69-72-68, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 69-71-72-68

281 - Steve Stricker 73-69-71-68, Camilo Villegas (COL) 72-68-70-71

Notable others:

282 - Soren Hansen (DEN) 69-69-71-73

283 - Yuta Ikeda (JPN) 71-68-74-70, Tim Clark (RSA) 70-69-74-70

284 - Mike Weir (CAN) 73-66-75-70, Peter Hanson (SWE) 74-66-74-70, Luke Donald (GBR) 70-75-69-70

285 - Lee Westwood (GBR) 74-68-74-69, Ross McGowan (GBR) 76-71-70-68, Yang Yong-Eun (KOR) 73-72-75-65, Liang Wen-Chong (CHN) 72-69-71-73

286 - Ian Poulter (GBR) 72-78-72-64, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 74-72-71-69, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 71-72-71-72, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP) 72-68-71-75

287 - Geoff Ogilvy (AUS) 72-71-75-69, Anders Hansen (DEN) 76-70-74-67, Ross Fisher (GBR) 73-72-70-72

288 - Simon Dyson (GBR) 72-73-73-70, Angel Cabrera (ARG) 74-71-70-73, Adam Scott (AUS) 74-69-71-74

290 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 73-72-73-72, Retief Goosen (RSA) 76-71-73-70

291 - Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) 74-78-73-66

292 - Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 72-74-72-74

293 - Robert Karlsson (SWE) 78-70-73-72

294 - Miguel Angel Jimenez (ESP) 73-75-73-73, Marc Leishman (AUS) 78-73-71-72

295 - Rory McIlroy (NIR) 76-73-73-73

296 - Oliver Wilson (GBR) 78-74-77-67

300 - Michael Sim (AUS) 75-74-77-74