Ernie Els insists the bitter disappointment of last year’s Masters, when he was beaten by Phil Mickelson’s last-hole birdie, is behind him now.
And the Big Easy is raring to go and finally add a Masters title to his two US Opens and British Open victories.
”My expectations here have always been to win the tournament — 1994 was my first year here and I finished eighth. That wasn’t a bad start,” said Els.
The South African’s record over Augusta National makes him a victory waiting to happen.
In 11 starts, he has finished in the top 10 six times, and in the past five years he has never finished worse than sixth.
”If you give yourself just one opportunity to win here, I think you’ve done very well. I’ve given myself several opportunities to walk away with a green jacket.
”It hasn’t happened yet. I’m trying to prepare myself for another go and hopefully it’s this year,” said a confident Els.
The world number three has been boosted by back-to-back wins on the European Tour.
”I’m just excited. I’m glad I’ve hit some form. I’ve a couple of wins under my belt,” said Els.
”It’s important to have played one or two tournaments very well up to this point because there’s a different pressure out here at Augusta, so we’ve done that.
”I’m playing well, so that takes a bit of pressure off the practice time that I need to spend on the practice range because I’m hitting the ball well.
”I can really just work on my strategy a little bit more away from the golf course. I’m really excited about getting it going now,” he added.
Els insists that the spat between him and his sports psychologist, Jos Vanstiphout, on the practice green at the Qatar Masters in March shortly before the start of the first round was in the past.
Els went out and shot a opening 73 and immediately blamed Vanstiphout for upsetting him.
”I was not happy,” he said in March. ”He is supposed to give me encouragement, not what he gave me. It’s supposed to be 10 minutes of good stuff before I play, but that was 12 minutes of the most ridiculous stuff I’ve ever thought of. I don’t know what went through his head.”
But on Tuesday, Els said: ”We’re good friends again. I think it was just one of those things. Just one of those misunderstandings, I suppose.”
Like Spaniard Sergio Garcia only hours before him, Els stressed the need for luck to win in Augusta.
”I’m hitting the ball well and putting OK. If Lady Luck is going to be on my side, I don’t know.
”I’m going to be a positive as I can, coming into this week but Lady Luck needs to be on your side now and again. You need to get lucky here and there.
”That’s where the fine line is, you know, a shot here and there, maybe a chip in or maybe I can lip a putt in here or there. That’s where it changes. If you don’t get that, you’re probably not going to win,” said Els.
After last year’s heartbreak, Els might very well get his lucky break this time around. — Sapa-AFP