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
ball conditions days driving easiest good
I was very good off the tee. I haven't had many better days driving the ball here. Conditions were also just about perfect, too. It's probably the easiest day we'll have here.
conditions dry masters might played
We haven't really played many Masters with dry conditions yet. We might find out this week.
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.
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.
learn organized rain until
You don't learn how to play in the rain. You learn to be organized with your bag. I didn't play much in the rain until I went to Europe.
bit happy holes maybe remember safe
Where they're tucking the flags, you can really look silly...you've got to maybe play a little bit more safe at some holes and I think I'll remember that for tomorrow's round. But I've got to be happy with that start.
becoming break days field four fun good hardest narrow par
Where it used to be kind of the most fun of all the majors, it's becoming the hardest one now. Over four days of competition, it's going to narrow the field dramatically. You will be doing good to break par on the back nine.
difficult yesterday
Yesterday I said it would be difficult and it showed today,
beat couple event four rounds shooting tiger won
I won this event in 1999, shooting 14 under for four rounds to beat Tiger and a couple of other guys.
club couple maybe next thinking trying utility weeks work
I was thinking about that, trying to maybe work on a utility club the next couple of weeks to use it at Augusta.
almost felt holes masters nervous playing settle start three
I was very nervous at the start of the round, I almost felt like I was teeing-off at the Masters or something. But after three holes I managed to settle down and started playing better.
game phil
I think Phil has got the game there now.
almost game masters phil
I think Phil has got the game (at Augusta) now. I think Phil, almost more than Tiger, has got more Masters in him, maybe.
credit deserved full phil
I think Phil deserved this one. Full credit to him.