South African golf star Ernie Els said on Wednesday he is working hard on his game, as he sets his sights on adding to his haul of majors following a disappointing Masters showing.
Els, who missed the cut at Augusta National earlier this month, spearheads the field at the Ballantine’s Championship on South Korea’s Jeju island, which starts on Thursday.
The three-time major winner said he was ”very disappointed again” with his showing at the Masters.
”It’s the third straight year now I’ve missed the cut there.
Although it’s been by one shot, that doesn’t matter. If you don’t play the weekend it’s very disappointing,” he said.
”I felt I played okay from tee to green. I was just nowhere on the greens, especially on the first day.”
Els, nicknamed the ”Big Easy,” said he did not set specific goals but wanted to be involved at the sharp end of the majors.
”I’ve only won three but I’ve been in contention in a lot of majors in my career.”
The 39-year-old said the focus was ”really to get my game up and going again. I’ve been really working hard at my whole game to be honest, and I just need to get the results now.”
”I’m really working hard on my putting,” he said. ”It’s not showing at the moment but it will start showing. Thank God it’s April. It’s not October so I’ve still got three majors left and I would really like to get a major this year.”
Els, currently ranked 16 in the world, said it was unlikely that last year’s low scores at the Pinx Golf Club on Jeju would be matched this year.
”If you miss the fairway the rough is very, very heavy, as heavy as I’ve seen it anywhere I’ve played this year, and the wind is really blowing,” he said.
The €2,1-million Ballantine’s Championship, which starts on Thursday, is co-sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours.
The heavyweight field includes Henrik Stenson of Sweden, England’s Lee Westwood and defending champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland as well as Asian Tour Order of Merit leader Anthony Kang. — Sapa-AFP