Virginia Water, England ? Defending champion Ernie Els defeated Vijay Singh, 5 and 4, Saturday, giving him a chance to win a record-tying fifth World Match Play title.

Thomas Bjorn defeated Ben Curtis, 2 up, in the other semifinal on the West Course at Wentworth. Bjorn lost this year’s British Open by one stroke to Curtis.

This will be Bjorn’s first appearance in the event’s final, which is worth $1.67 million to the winner. Players qualified through a system that takes into account performances in the four majors.

Today, Els will try to join Seve Ballesteros and Gary Player as the only five-time winners.

Els also won the European money title with two events left. Darren Clarke, his nearest rival and $950,000 behind, pulled out of the last two tournaments. Clarke needed to win both to have any chance of overtaking the South African.

Els reeled off eight straight winning holes in the middle of the 36-hole marathon after trailing by four after 15. He broke the record of seven straight set 38 years ago by Tony Lema.

Els led by four holes through 23 and then went up by five after Singh’s bogey.

“I don’t know what Vijay had for lunch, but he didn’t hit the ball the same at the start of the second 18,” Els said.

Bjorn never trailed, going four holes up after a double-bogey 6 by Curtis. The American won two of the next three holes with birdies to leave him in front by two after 18.