Ernie Els
Ernie Els
Theodore Ernest "Ernie" Elsis a South African professional golfer. A former World No. 1, he is known as "The Big Easy" due to his imposing physical stature) along with his fluid golf swing. Among his 71 career victories are four major championships: the U.S. Open in 1994 at Oakmont and in 1997 at Congressional, and The Open Championship in 2002 at Muirfield and in 2012 at Royal Lytham & St Annes. He is one of six golfers to twice win...
NationalitySouth African
ProfessionAthlete
bogey came five huge mistakes par sums
I feel that to bogey a par five is a huge sin. But after making mistakes I came back well and that kind of sums up the whole day.
almost eagle field five hole strongest three week win
I was five under on that hole for the week with an eagle and three birdies. But there you go. This was strongest field in the world this year...and to almost win is fine.
bottom five guess half hard looked par problem putting start today tough work
Today was a tough day and I got off to an iffy start and was two over par after five holes. I battled hard to get it back to level. But I have to work on my putting. I looked at my putting stats and I'm down in the bottom half of the field, so I guess that is where my problem is this week.
although coming five four good love obviously
It's good to be back. I obviously love this course, although I haven't been coming here for four or five years now. But this place is good karma.
best break five golf last playing six time weeks
Before the injury, I had been playing professional golf for the best part of 16 years without any really long breaks. The last time I had a long break was in 2001 when I was out for five or six weeks with a back injury.
breaks five four golf july june needed next somewhere weeks
I don't take too many long breaks through the season. My next long break will probably be somewhere in June or July when I have two weeks off. For the next four or five months, it's a lot of golf with a week off here and there and a lot of traveling. So I needed to do that just to recharge.
brain great love picking thinking winning
He's a great champion. I love picking his brain about what he was thinking when he was winning all those tournaments.
behind conditions full generally last major month notch open rattled took
He's a full notch behind Vijay. He's not even on the same rung. There's no major that rattles you like the U.S. Open. Last year's Open probably took a month to get over that. It's not like the Masters, where the conditions are generally the same. At the Open, they're probably already rattled going in.
almost golfing gone level seems tired
He's almost like a golfing machine. He never seems to get tired of the game. And he's gone up a level this year.
coming love
I love coming here when I get the chance,
finished second six
I finished second six times to him that year,
feeling masters next open ready reason time traveling virus year
I will be ready for the Masters next time around and had I not got a virus just before Augusta, this year I would have been ready. I don't know if it was all the traveling that did it to me or whatever, but also for some reason I went to the U.S. Open feeling tired.
area brushing course fine game good line practice score taking
Brushing up on your short game at the practice area is fine and good, but taking it with you to the golf course - when your score is really on the line - is another story.
accuracy areas best certain conditions difference form gets greens longer matter player second shots small takes toughest tour win
Basically, it takes the best player who's on form to win this tournament. The conditions here, maybe, make more difference than at a lot of places. When it gets a little firmer, the second shots become probably the toughest on Tour because the greens are very small and there's only certain areas where you can go with your second shots. In that regard, it doesn't matter longer or shorter hitter. Accuracy is at a premium.