PREVIEW-Golf-Els looks to Waialae for return to winning ways (Reuters)
January 13, 2010
HONOLULU, Jan 13 (Reuters) – After failing to win anywherein the world last year, Ernie Els has decided to focus hisplaying schedule on the U.S. PGA Tour for the next six months,starting with this week’s Sony Open.
South African Els is a double champion at the palm-fringedWaialae Country Club and has long cherished Hawaii as a happyhunting ground to kick-start his season.
“Waialae Country Club is a golf course I’ve played many,many times over the years and with that familiarity comes afair amount of comfort,” Els said in the build-up to Thursday’sopening round.
“Hawaii has always been a good place to start the year forme. I’ve played some great golf here, winning three tournamentsin the space of 12 months not so long ago.
“Well, it doesn’t seem that long ago but in actual fact itwas 2003-04. It’s probably about time I updated that with somenew entries … who knows, maybe this week?”
Els, a winner of more than 60 tournaments worldwide,clinched the PGA Tour’s season-opening Mercedes Championship inJanuary 2003, along with the Sony Open the following week.
He went on to retain his Sony Open crown in 2004 and hasalways enjoyed the challenge presented by Waialae’s smallgreens and fickle winds.
“It’s also quite a narrow course,” Els, popularly known asthe Big Easy, said on his official website(http://www.ernieels.com) of the venue for the first full-fieldevent of the PGA Tour season.
OCEAN BREEZES
“Combine that with the ocean breezes and you really have toget your golf ball under control to score well. I’m obviouslylooking forward to it.”
A three-times major champion who has been a regular memberof the world’s top 10 for the last decade-and-a-half, Els isnow ranked a relatively low 17th after a winless 2009 campaign.
In a bid to raise his golfing stock, the popular SouthAfrican will focus on the PGA Tour for the first half of theseason.
“Taking everything into account, I felt that it was theright thing to do for my golf,” said the 40-year-old, whosehome is now based in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“And it limits my travelling for the first three or fourmonths of the year, which is something I’m keen to do whereverpossible. After a nice long break, I’m raring to go.”
Els faces a strong field at Waialae where former worldnumber one and 2005 champion Vijay Singh is also making hisfirst appearance of the season.
Also taking part is American world number three SteveStricker, plus all of last year’s major winners—Argentina’sAngel Cabrera (Masters), Americans Lucas Glover (U.S. Open) andStewart Cink (British Open) and South Korean Yang Yong-eun (PGAChampionship).
American Zach Johnson, the 2007 Masters champion, defendsthe title he won by two shots at Waialae last year.
(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing byNick Mulvenney; To query or comment on this story emailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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