DORAL, Florida (AP) — Ernie Els ended the longest drought of his career by winning the CA Championship at Doral on Sunday in a duel with South African protege Charl Schwartzel.

Els closed with a 6-under 66 on for a four-shot victory that was far closer than the margin suggests.

He had a one-shot lead as he stood over a 25-foot par putt on the 14th hole and was relieved to see it fall on the final turn.

Schwartzel, in his first time on a world stage, fell apart after that, going bunker-to-bunker on the 15th for a bogey and missing short putts on the next two holes. He shot a 70.

Els last won two years ago in the Honda Classic. He becomes only the fifth player with multiple wins in the World Golf Championships, joining Tiger Woods, Darren Clarke, Geoff Ogilvy and Phil Mickelson.

It was his 61st victory worldwide, and 17th on the PGA Tour, and moved Els to No. 8 in the world ranking.

Els walked up to the 18th green with his cap in hand, waving to the gallery, unable to contain a smile that showed equal parts relief and satisfaction.

“I’m 40 years old. I’ve had a tough run,” Els said. “Whew! The hairs are standing up. It’s just great.”

“My game was in good shape,” said Els, who finished at 18-under 270. “I just wanted to prove to myself for once. Charl came at me all day. I had to come up with the goods.”

It was a strong effort by Schwartzel, who has considered Els a hero since he first started playing golf.

Despite two bogeys on the final four holes, he was the only player to give Els a run. And he was poised to take him down until his tee shot left him little hope in the sand.

Schwartzel, a houseguest of Els the last two weeks, caught a bad break on the 15th hole when his ball plugged in a front bunker, and he knocked that into a back bunker on his way to a crucial bogey.