Rain Puts Two-in-Row on Hold for Els

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The last time Ernie Els won back-to-back PGA Tour outings was in 2003.

After seven years, what's one more day?

Els will return to Bay Hill Club and Lodge Monday morning hoping to hold on to the Arnold Palmer Invitational final-round lead he owned when a monster storm moved over Central Florida Sunday afternoon and suspended play.

If he does, it will be the 40-year-old's second straight victory after winning only once previously since 2004. Two weeks ago, he claimed the World Golf Championship CA Championship by four shots at Doral.

"I don't know what it's going to be like tomorrow, who knows," Els said. "But it is what it is."

When lightning, quickly followed by heavy rain, caused officials to sound the horn at 2:32 p.m., Els had completed 14 holes, owning a two-shot lead over Kevin Na and three-stroke advantage over Retief Goosen, Ben Curtis and Chris Couch. Na and Curtis also have completed 14 holes, while Couch will return to face a 15-foot putt for par on No. 14.

PGA Tour officials had pushed up Sunday's tee times for a 3:30 p.m. finish rather than the planned 6 p.m. conclusion, but still failed to beat the predicted storm.

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After delaying play for three hours in an attempt to wait out the storm, the day was officially suspended and play will resume at 10 a.m.

That may be to Els' benefit.

With six birdies over his first 12 holes, the three-time major champ from South Africa roared to 14-under and held a five-shot lead. But just as it began to look like a runaway victory, Els hit his approach shot at the par-4 13th short of the green and into water to make double-bogey, then bogeyed the par-3 14th from out of a greenside bunker.

The break in play could allow the leader to regroup and resume his chase for a career 18th PGA Tour title.

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"Yeah, I would like to think so, " said Els, who was 1 under for the day when play stopped. "But then again, you know, you want to get it done. I don't know, we'll have to wait and see. Now I'm going to go have dinner tonight, think about it, not going to be a very easy night.

"I'm going to play properly tomorrow morning and get it in. It's going to be difficult but that's why we do what we do I guess. Obviously I'm not totally at ease with myself right now. I'm a little angry or disappointed or whatever you want to call it. There's still work out there to be done, and I've got to get it done. I've basically got to go out there and play hard tomorrow morning, as good as I can, basically four holes as good as I can. But you know, I've got a two-shot lead."

If Els does hold on, it will continue a remarkable turnaround for the player who was once considered Tiger Woods' chief challenger, but had fallen greatly out of form.

After winning three times in 2004, Els has faced rehabilitating a serious knee injury in addition to the personal turmoil of his young son being diagnosed with autism.

Recently, however, after a career of globetrotting around the world to compete internationally, Els made his South Florida home a permanent base and concentrated on finding his game.

"For a long time, I was working, but I wasn't working towards a goal," Els said this week. "There wasn't an end game. It was just ongoing, and I wasn't really getting the benefit out of it.

"I changed it up a little bit, and obviously, with the family life and everybody settled, I think everything else has been nice, and I can get on with work. I think that's really starting to play off."

The day was a crazy one, and that was even before the bad weather blew in.

Sixteen of the field's 75 players posted scores of 40 or higher on the front nine. Henrik Stenson played 16 holes 2-under par but shot 77 with 7 and an 8 on two par 4s.

"It's unfortunate that we didn't finish today," said Na, who was 3 under for the day. "I was playing well and Ernie was, but tomorrow is another day. We'll come out and I'll give it my best, and I think I still need to make a few birdies coming in to get a chance maybe in a playoff.

"I'll just go out, have dinner, just relax. It's nice we are not starting too early. I'm already going to miss two flights already. I already had one at nine tomorrow morning, so I'll go find another flight and come out tomorrow and fire."