Three-time major champion Ernie Els likes his chances of winning his first Masters green jacket because of the difficult playing conditions at Augusta National Golf Club.
The 36-year-old South African fired his second consecutive one-under par 71 on Friday to stand on two-under par 142 — four strokes behind United States leader Chad Campbell.
That’s well within reach on a course playing like the US Open layouts upon which Els won major titles in 1994 and 1997.
”If you shoot anything like I’ve shot the first two days on the next two days, I think you will be right in there,” Els said.
”It was two solid rounds. Two-under seems like it’s not too bad. Conditions are getting tougher out there. I’ll take what I’ve got.”
Els, who also won the 2002 British Open, would complete three-quarters of a career Grand Slam with a Masters triumph.
”I think I’m going to be in pretty good shape. I’m fine,” Els said. ”I’ve just got to try to sneak something into the 60s this weekend and see what happens. I know you don’t have to try to shoot 65.”
Patience and a conservative US Open approach over a lengthened Augusta National layout — the second-longest in majors history at 7 445 yards — have helped Els solve the altered Masters landscape.
”I’ve played some good US Opens. That’s the way I want to play this week, like you do in a US Open,” Els said. ”You can’t just hammer it out there. I want to keep it in the fairway. I don’t want to get too over-agressive.
”I can see a lot of backtracking over this course sometime this weekend.”
Known as ”The Big Easy” for his laid-back attitude, Els’ relaxed calm helped him overcome setbacks such as a double bogey at the 10th hole on Friday and a concern about playing it too safe.
”I just played 10 really bad. I pulled my tee shot too far left, made a couple bad mental errors. Other than that I played really well,” Els said.
”I got a little defensive on 10 and it bit me in the behind. You can’t be defensive. You have to be careful. You want to play the percentages. That’s the word. You don’t want to be too defensive.”
Els has a string of Masters near-misses, his five top-six finishes in the past six years including runner-up to Singh in 2000 and Mickelson in 2004.
Saying his surgically repaired left knee is fine, Els has found a balance between caution and risk.
”The back nine is awfully tough,” Els said. ”You want to be safe but if you are too safe you have a difficult shot to make par. In the past when you came in with 7-irons you were more aggresive. These days with a 4-iron, you’re not as aggressive.
”You play away from flags here like you do at US Opens. The only difference is the rough is not so high — and give that some time.” – Sapa-AFP