Ernie Els' golden run of Toyota World Match Play success ended at Wentworth yesterday when Fijian Vijay Singh avenged last year's final defeat. "Let's face it, I guess it had to stop some time," said the South African, so close to winning the title for an unprecedented fourth time in a row.

Singh won the massive £170,000 first prize on the final green when Els, never beaten at the event before, failed to get up and down from a bunker and had to concede the match.

"Sooner or later somebody was going to beat him," said Singh.

"Ever since I was young I read about this tournament. I had a dream to play in it and here I am winning it."

The 34-year-old lost last year's final three and two and again had the handicap of having to play four matches against the three of Els, who, as the top seed, was given a bye into the quarter-finals.

But Singh grew in confidence with wins over Japan's Tsukasa Watanabe, Australian Steve Elkington and American Brad Faxon.

And, even when Els pulled back from three down at lunch to all square with four to play, he was the one in more control of his game.

Els fell behind again when he pulled his approach to the 33rd into sand and missed a seven-foot putt for a half.

He did well not to lose the next after hooking into the trees and a poor pitch on the long 35th meant he remained one down with one to play.

That was the position he found himself in against Nick Price in the semi-finals and on that occasion he birdied the last and then made a 40footer for victory at the first extra hole. But on a day when he never found his best form there was to be no repeat.

Singh, like Els twice a winner on the US Tour this season, followed Els' poor second to the last with a superb five-iron to 12 feet, his caddie Scottish Dave Renwick having persuaded him to change from a sixiron.

His eagle attempt rolled two feet past and Singh looked towards Els for a possible concession then.

"I was a little bit surprised he didn't give it to me, but it was for the tournament and I quite understand. If Ernie had made his for four (from 10 feet) mine would have looked like a four-footer."

Els commented: "I wasn't going to give it - I wanted him to putt to win. He probably would have made it, but it would have been interesting. I wanted him to work for it."

Because of that, the victory margin was recorded as one hole rather than two holes.