Profit and loss for Els

In recent years it has been a case of Ernie Els winning, South Africa losing. So it must have been unusual yesterday for the world No 4 to suffer a rare personal defeat and then watch his team-mates carry him into the semi-finals of the Dunhill Cup.

Els has played on the final day only once before in six years and for a man not used to having Sundays free it was becoming his annual day off. But victories at the death from Wayne Westner and Retief Goosen ensured that Els will lead out his side against New Zealand this morning with his eyes on the afternoon final.

It was a dubious honour for Paul McGinley to be labelled as the main Irish danger by South Africa in yesterday's decisive game of Group Three. Els's tactic, as it is of most captains, is to pitch the team's No 1 against the opponents they fear most. McGinley has been in good form this year having won his first European tour title and showing up well in the Open, and after comfortable wins on Thursday and Friday was the unfortunate Els chose to play.

McGinley is blessed with the pluck of the Irish and showed why South Africa were right to worry as he set about dismantling the man who can claim to be the finest matchplayer in the world.

The 29-year-old Dubliner is a former Gaelic footballer, so knows a bit about wind, rain and stern competition. It was experience that served him well early on as the Old Course was at its most fearsome when he and Els went out. A birdie three at the first by McGinley set the trend for a match in which Els was always playing catch up.

By the fifth the Irishman was two shots ahead, before Els came back with birdies at the ninth and 10th to level the scores. With the South African seemingly taking it all in that giant stride of his, McGinley looked in trouble. But a two at the par-three 11th allowed him to regain a lead he was never to lose. At the 16th Els went through the green with a nine- iron to make a bogey and when McGinley parred the Road Hole 17th the match was in effect won. McGinley finished with a three-under 69 to Els's 71.

Afterwards McGinley was in a philosophical mood: "Obviously I was pleased to beat Ernie, but luck was definitely not on our side."

When you've just beaten Ernie Els, the man who goes for an unprecedented third World Matchplay Championship at Wentworth this week, and still ended up as a loser, you have every right to feel a bit down on your luck.