Ernie Els is setting new goals to get over his near misses at this year’s major golf championships.
”I just want to try and be happy again,” he said on Wednesday. ”I want to get myself in better shape physically.”
Els is in Switzerland to defend his European Masters title, starting on Thursday, his first outing since he was 65th in the NEC Championship in Akron, Ohio, two weeks ago.
That followed his tie for fourth, a stroke out of a play-off, at the PGA championship the previous week. The PGA near miss came in the wake of second-place finishes in the Masters and British Opens.
”The British Open hurt the most. I didn’t play very well in the play-off,” he said, referring to his four-hole loss to American Todd Hamilton.
He conceded that motivation is a problem, repeating that he would not have played the NEC if it had been any other event.
”The NEC, I definitely wasn’t there,” he said. ”If it hadn’t been the NEC, I wouldn’t have played. I haven’t felt like that in four years. At any other event, I have always gone in wanting to win, trying to win.”
Els said he was finding it difficult to put the failure in majors behind him.
”I was three shots away from winning three majors,” he said. ”I was in contention in every one and walked away with nothing. It was definitely a downer and still is.
”I want to be happy, enjoy my family, enjoy my golf and be fitter and the enjoyment should come back into the game.”
Els is playing several big money events in Europe over the next two months and could retain his title as the number-one European Tour player. He leads the standings.
”Motivation is not money. I just want to be happy again. It’s tough to go through that. You can feel like a failure.”
He said he is in reasonable condition, but could be fitter.
”I’ve been keeping myself in good shape, but I want to get stronger and fitter. I want to go that extra mile,” he said. — Sapa-AP