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Els high on optimism after Sony Open win
Honolulu, Jan 21: Ernie Els boarded his private plane for Thailand feeling as optimistic about his game as he did last year, minus one of the trophies from the Hawaii swing.
Honolulu, Jan 21: Ernie Els boarded his private plane for Thailand feeling as optimistic about his game as he did last year, minus one of the trophies from the Hawaii swing.
``I made big strides this week,'' Els said after winning the Sony Open for the second straight year in a playoff. ``It's a long, hard battle all year. I want to give it a go, see if I can contend in the majors and follow my dream and hopefully achieve it one day. I'm feeling good.''
Els swept both PGA Tour events a year ago, the Mercedes Championships and the Sony Open. Everyone figured he was poised to have a big year and challenge Tiger Woods. He went on to win seven times around the world, but he failed to win a major and lost ground to Woods.
Els had to settle for only one victory on the islands this year, but it was memorable. His week began on Tuesday when he played a practice round with 14-year-old Michelle Wie, who posted the best score (68) by a woman competing against the men on the PGA Tour.
Wie said her practice round with Els put her at ease for the week, and her performance was remarkable. With two birdies on her final three holes, she missed the cut by one shot. The Big Wiesy gave way to the Big Easy at the end of the week.
Els closed with a 65 and holed a do-or-die birdie putt from 10 feet on the final hole to force a playoff with Harrison Frazar. On the first extra hole, Els had to get up-and-down for par to extend the playoff. Then after blowing a great opportunity to win, he closed out the Texan with a 30-foot birdie on third playoff hole.
He became the first repeat winner at Waialae since Corey Pavin in 1987, and the first player since Nick Faldo in the Masters (1989-90) to win the same tournament back-to-back in a playoff.
Bureau Report
``I made big strides this week,'' Els said after winning the Sony Open for the second straight year in a playoff. ``It's a long, hard battle all year. I want to give it a go, see if I can contend in the majors and follow my dream and hopefully achieve it one day. I'm feeling good.''
Els swept both PGA Tour events a year ago, the Mercedes Championships and the Sony Open. Everyone figured he was poised to have a big year and challenge Tiger Woods. He went on to win seven times around the world, but he failed to win a major and lost ground to Woods.
Els had to settle for only one victory on the islands this year, but it was memorable. His week began on Tuesday when he played a practice round with 14-year-old Michelle Wie, who posted the best score (68) by a woman competing against the men on the PGA Tour.
Wie said her practice round with Els put her at ease for the week, and her performance was remarkable. With two birdies on her final three holes, she missed the cut by one shot. The Big Wiesy gave way to the Big Easy at the end of the week.
Els closed with a 65 and holed a do-or-die birdie putt from 10 feet on the final hole to force a playoff with Harrison Frazar. On the first extra hole, Els had to get up-and-down for par to extend the playoff. Then after blowing a great opportunity to win, he closed out the Texan with a 30-foot birdie on third playoff hole.
He became the first repeat winner at Waialae since Corey Pavin in 1987, and the first player since Nick Faldo in the Masters (1989-90) to win the same tournament back-to-back in a playoff.
Bureau Report