Els needs big improvement
2006-02-20 20:02
Los Angeles - World number four Ernie Els
aims to improve upon a mediocre record at the
Match Play Championship when he competes in the $7.5m tournament for the first time in three years this week.
The 36-year-old South African is at a loss to explain his
lack of success in the opening World Golf Championships event of
the season, especially in view of his outstanding performances
in the World Match Play at Wentworth, England.
"If I'm being honest, this is one event on the PGA Tour
where my record really isn't good," said Els who has yet to
reach the final since the elite 64-man competition was launched
in 1999.
"It's a tough thing to explain. Obviously I've had a great
time at Wentworth in the World Match Play, winning that event
six times over the years," he told his official website on
Monday.
Els said the 18-hole format used in every match in Carlsbad,
California except the 36-hole final made it essential to get off
to a good start.
Different ballgame
"The 36-hole matches we play at Wentworth are a completely
different ballgame to what we have here this week at La Costa
Resort and Spa," he said. "This is more like a sprint compared
to an 800m race.
"If you make a bad start you haven't got much time to get
back into the game. Things can be over in a hurry if you're not
careful."
Els has recently swapped places in the world rankings with
fifth-placed Phil Mickelson, meaning the South African earns the
status of top seed in one of the four 16-man sections of the WGC
tournament.
"That means I don't get to play Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and
Retief Goosen until at least the semi-finals although let's not
get too far ahead of ourselves," said Els.
"I've got to make it that far yet and I haven't managed that
since 2001 in Australia where I lost in the semis."
Els shot a closing four-under-par 67 to finish joint 23rd at
the Nissan Open and he was particularly pleased with his putting
at Pacific Palisades.
"I definitely found something on the greens at the Riviera
Country Club," he said. "On Sunday, that's probably the best
I've putted all season.
"I need to be able to find that little secret again on the
greens here at La Costa and if I do that there's no reason why I
can't have a good run this week."