Watch World Match Play final highlights

The Spaniard lost 2&1 to Els in the final at Wentworth but the champion backed Garcia to join the list of five players to have won the Masters, US Open, Open and US PGA.

"He has so much talent," said Els.

"Fortunately or unfortunately - whichever way you look at it - he is playing in the Tiger era, but he is very capable of winning all four."

The illustrious list to have completed the feat during their career comprises Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.

But golf's true holy grail - all four Majors in one season - has never been done, though Woods has held all four at the same time.

Els, meanwhile, is now only one win away from equalling the record five World Match Play titles achieved by fellow South African Player and Seve Ballesteros.

"That became a target when I won for the third time in 1996 - it seemed quite easy, but then I lost the final to Vijay Singh the following year and I struggled," said Els.

"This year, though, I felt comfortable."

He was never behind in any of his three matches and against Colin Montgomerie in the quarter-finals Els set a new championship record round of 60.

'Right spirit'

Garcia was gracious in defeat and said Els deserved his win.

"I thought I could come back, but it was great fun out there and played in the right spirit," he said.

"Ernie is a wonderful guy, we had some laughs and Ernie was the guy who played the best.

"He played better through the whole tournament."

Watch Els lift the World Match Play trophy