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
america blame easy playing schedule seems
It is easy to blame it on the schedule and it seems like, especially in America, the journalists have been playing a lot on that,
european fantastic field tougher week year
We have a tougher field this year with Vijay and some of the other European stars, so it should be a fantastic week obviously.
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.
dream hoping jack nine situation
We were hoping for Jack to win, but we didn't think he was going to. To see him play the back nine the way he did was a real dream because, you know, how many more times was I going to see Jack Nicklaus in a situation like that?
good pro remember rest saying sitting stay turn wants whether
We were sitting there talking, and I remember him saying he doesn't know what he wants to do, whether to turn pro or stay in school, ... I told him he was good enough to turn pro. He did, and the rest is history.
bottom golf guess half looked problem putting today tough
Today was a tough day. 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.
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.
believe best closed davis elevated gap golf guys humble phil playing tee tiger win
Tiger is not playing as well as he did then. Guys like Vijay, Phil (Mickelson), Davis (Love) and me have elevated a little bit, and the gap has closed a bit. I think guys get to the first tee and really believe they can win with Tiger in the field. Golf will humble the best of them and that's where we are.
good looking states tiger united victory won
Tiger is looking good after his victory in the United States isn't he. But I've won here before and I like the course. I feel comfortable.
coming field saw scoring stage tiger
Freddie was coming on then, and I saw Tiger was coming on then, and the whole field was kind of scoring at that stage and I was kind of stalling, ... It was getting to me a little bit.
average ball body change club dig feet good lower middle sand selection sitting slightly stable swing
From a good lie in the middle of a fairway bunker, I'll make the same swing as I do from an average fairway lie. I'll dig my feet in slightly and keep my lower body stable so I won't slip, but I don't change my club selection or setup. It's only when the ball is sitting down in the sand that I'll make some modifications.
angle catch club cut height helps inch left open slightly swing
From the rough, I'd use a 6-iron, play the ball back an inch or two and swing down on a steeper angle to catch the ball first. It also helps to aim slightly left and open the clubface at address. You'll get more height on the shot, and the club will cut through the grass more easily.
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.