/ 8 August 2007

Els tries to put finishing touches to another major

Ernie Els, coming off a fourth-place effort at the British Open, is struggling to find the finishing touches of form that would make the difference between good rounds and a fourth major title.

The 37-year-old South African prepares to tee off on Thursday in the 89th PGA Championship with a sense that he is playing well but not quite well enough to add to his haul of 1994 and 1997 US Open and 2002 British Open titles.

”Somewhere there has been a bit of a dip in confidence and it has been tough to get it back to the level where I want. At times I’ve played some wonderful rounds but haven’t quite closed the deal,” Els said on Tuesday.

”Seems like I have been on better form outside the US. Don’t ask me why but for some reason it’s not quite happening for me at the moment.

”I’m playing good golf. I’m striking it well. I’ve got to take positives out of all those into this week. It’s my final chance to win a major and I know it will be very difficult but I just want to try and give myself a chance.”

To do that, Els said, he likely will need to be within three or four strokes after 54 holes.

”If you can be three or four shots behind, if you’re not in the lead, I think you have got a great chance,” Els said. ”I think 4-, 5-, 6-under might lead through three rounds and anything can happen on Sunday.

”That’s all you can hope for.”

Els looks at the trio of first-time major winners this year and recalls his major breakthrough at the 1994 US Open at Oakmont, where he beat Loren Roberts and Colin Montgomerie in a play-off.

”I won my first major when I was 24. It takes all of the pressure off,” Els said.

”Also added a lot of stuff because now you’re 24, you almost feel like you need to prove to people that it wasn’t a fluke.

”So for a good period after that win I felt like I’ve got to show people this is not just a flash in the pan thing.

”It basically took the pressure off and added a lot of confidence to my game. You basically can’t win a major early enough nowadays.”

Els marvels at the fact that Raymond Floyd’s Southern Hills Country Club course record of seven-under par 63 from his 1982 PGA Championship triumph remains the standard at this layout.

”I think it has got a good chance of being equalled this week,” Els said. ”I think the course is in unbelievable shape. The greens are perfect. With this heat they have got to keep the greens quite soft I would imagine.

”So a guy that hits fairways, puts himself in position, he can start attacking some of these flags. With today’s equipment and athletes, I think it has got a good chance.

”We will have to wait and see but it’s amazing that in 25 years it has not been broken. It just shows you the class of the course. It has stood up to the test of equipment. I think that’s the sign of a great layout.” – Sapa-AFP