Melbourne, Feb 05: Ernie Els shot a career-best 12-under 60 on Thursday in the first round of the Heineken Classic, leaving him a stroke short of becoming the first player to shoot a sub-60 round in the history of the European and Australasian tours.
The South African star, seeking his second straight victory on Royal Melbourne's composite course, parred the final two holes and had a bogey on No. 15. He finished the round in windless conditions with an eagle, 11 birdies, five pars and the lone bogey.
"I felt really good on the driving range this morning, and I could see the conditions were pretty ideal," Els said. "I knew that Michael Campbell had a 64, so I kept plugging away."
On the par-4 17, Els left a 35-foot birdie putt 3 feet short. On No. 18, also a par-4 hole, his approach from the adjoining 17th fairway went to the back fringe of the green, and his birdie putt went nearly 3 feet past the hole.


Bureau Report