Bickerton was amazed after Els floundered on the final green

Ernie Els carded a triple-bogey eight, finding the water twice at the final hole, to throw away victory in the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

England's John Bickerton was the beneficiary, with his 68 enough to give him a one-stroke win at Leopard Creek.

Overnight leader Els carded a 73 to tie for second on 12 under with England's Lee Slattery, who finished with a 71.

Holland's Joost Luiten produced a 67 to claim fourth, while Darren Clarke slumped to one under after a 75.

I was just hoping to finish second and I wasn't even watching Ernie play the last John Bickerton

Bickerton, who had trailed Els by four shots heading into the final round, began the day with an eagle on the par-five second hole.

He added four more birdies and two bogeys to finish 13 under for the tournament.

Having just finished his round two shots behind Els, who had the final hole to play, Bickerton watched as the South African twice missed the green, to the astonishment of the home crowd.

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Instead of laying up, Els went straight for the flag only to see his shot go right and find the water.

His second was much better but bounced before finding the water and he eventually left himself six feet from the hole.

Needing to make the putt to force a play-off, Els missed and handed 37-year-old Bickerton the title.

Els found the water twice at the last

The European Tour now moves to Paarl near Cape Town for this week's South African Airways Open.

"Disbelief - that's all I can say," said Bickerton. "I was just hoping to finish second, and I wasn't even watching Ernie play the last.

"I actually feel sorry for him, but of course this is fantastic news for me in terms of my career.