Putting superbly with one of his old putters, Ernie Els reached the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship third round for the first time in six years by beating American Steve Stricker 3&2 on Thursday.
The smooth-swinging South African piled up six birdies in a flawless display at Dove Mountain’s Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, sealing victory with a matching par on the 16th green.
”I just thought I needed to start making some putts,” Els (39) told reporters after booking his place in the third round against Britain’s Luke Donald.
”I went back to my old-style putter and I’ve been trying to get comfortable with that. I’ve also been looking at some old tapes because I’ve been changing my technique — where my hands are and stuff.
”I’ve gone back to a 35-inch putter and it’s got a little bit of give in the shaft,” said the player popularly known as the ”Big Easy”. ”So I’m back to the old things that I used to do.”
The three-times major champion, who beat Dane Soren Hansen 4&2 in Wednesday’s opening round, said an improved work ethic was finally paying dividends.
”I’ve been working my ass off a lot and I’m starting to feel a little bit better,” added Els, who had lost in the opening round of this event for the last four years.
Getting ahead
”I’m really swinging nicely. I’ve just got to stay within myself, not get ahead of myself. Just stay in the moment.
”Last week I made 20 birdies and finished three under for the week,” he said, referring to his tie for 51st at the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles.
”So I had a lot of mistakes in between. But when you’re making birdies you’re doing something good, and I’m striking the ball quite nicely. I’ve been working with [swing coach] Butch [Harmon] and so forth, so I feel I’m really comfortable with my swing.”
Asked why his record had been so poor at the Accenture Match Play Championship for a seven-times winner of the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth in England, Els replied: ”First of all, at Wentworth I sleep at home.
”And it is 36 holes of match play rather then 18 holes here, so it’s more of a sprint here as we know. If you get off to a bad start, it is hard to get back into it.
”Also the golf course, Wentworth is one of my favourite courses and I know it very well.” – Reuters