Ernie Els reached the last four of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship for the first time in 13 years with a comprehensive 4 and 2 victory over Jordan Spieth.
The South African was never behind in his quarter-final against the young American, and three birdies in five holes on the back nine settled the contest.
“I'm obviously elated to be going through,” said the four-time Major Champion.
“It's been a wonderful week up to now. At times I haven't played my best, as you guys have well documented and know, but it is match play - I've just done enough to get through.
“Today I felt like I played a little bit more solid, but still not quite to my expectations.
“Jordan obviously didn't play as good as he did yesterday, thank goodness, and I was just a bit more solid.”
Els has won seven World Match Play titles at Wentworth, but admits he has struggled to produce that prowess at the World Golf Championships knock-out contest.
“I really had a love/hate relationship with this event, as you guys well know,” he added. “I was lucky enough to get in the field a couple of years ago and beat Luke Donald in the first round, but most of the time I lost in the first round here either on the 18th or 19th hole. It's been a frustrating time in this event.
“I still feel I've got a really good one in me. Hopefully I can play some really good stuff tomorrow.
“In the World Match Play event in London one year, I was down six or seven down to Steve Stricker through 18 holes and beat him one up. I've scrambled through many, many times in that event and won it seven times.”
