Golf: Els nears title

A rejuvenated Ernie Els closed in on his second successive PGA Tour win by finishing the Arnold Palmer Invitational third round with a one-shot lead over American Ben Curtis yesterday.

South African Els, winner of this month's WGC-CA Championship, shot a three-under 69 to close on 10-under 206. Curtis (70), who had been bogey-free for 31 holes, finally succumbed on the 16th and 17th to surrender the lead.

Chris Couch (69) of the US was third, three shots behind Els, after enjoying some luck on the final hole when his ball ricocheted off three rocks before jumping on to the green and allowing him to make par.