Ernie Els had his putter in his hand and had just left the practice green, admitting he was a ”little bit off” with it last weekend in Bangkok.
Els, bidding for his third Heineken Classic in a row at Royal Melbourne, finished tied for 10th at the Johnnie Walker Classic last week in Thailand. He’s expecting much better things this week on one of his favourite golf courses.
”I feel I am striking the ball well and pacing myself a little better this year,” Els said. ”I love this golf course, as you know. It has never looked better.”
The par-72 composite course at Royal Melbourne is rated one of the world’s best, and was the site of the 1998 Presidents Cup where Els and the rest of the International team beat the Tiger Woods-led United States.
Since then, Els has done little wrong here.
In 2002, he shot a closing three-under 69 for a 17-under-par total of 271 and a five-shot win. Last year, after closing with rounds of 66 and 65, finished with a 17-under total of 273 and a one-stroke victory over Nick Faldo.
Still, Els figures he’s lucky to shoot those kinds of scores.
”You’ve got to keep the ball in play off the tee and I’ve done that quite well,” said Els. ”The greens are quite an issue, they are very fast, very firm.
”It’s not like a putting contest out there. If you shoot around par or a little better than par, you are always going to have a good tournament here.”
Former major winners Greg Norman, Faldo and Ian Woosnam are also entered this week in the Heineken, a joint European and Australasian tours event that begins on Thursday.
Norman said he’s decided to practise more. He’s now working with Craig Harmon, brother of Woods’s coach, Butch Harmon.
”I’ve started to hit a few more golf balls,” said Norman. ”I’ve been very encouraged in a very short period of time.
”I’ve had good feedback. My back’s not any better, it’s almost a day-to-day thing. I want to play [more] if I can.”
Woosnam, the 1996 Classic winner, missed the cut by two shots in Bangkok. He had a difficult 2003 when a persistent back injury curtailed his schedule and his father and former coach, Harold, died in July.
”I didn’t have a very good year last year, a lot of things happened, dad died and a lot of things went on,” said Woosnam (45).
”But hopefully I can start afresh this year. I’m working hard and trying to see if I can get myself together. I’m trying to go to the gym and work out a little bit and trying to get myself fitter really because my back’s not been good for a number of years.”
Other entries include Australians Adam Scott and Stuart Appleby, England’s Paul Casey, Michael Campbell of New Zealand and Trevor Immelman of South Africa. — Sapa-AP