Ernie Els finishes 6th at Kapalua to start the year
Ernie Els at Kapalua - Reuters
Ernie Els was just two strokes back going into the weekend, but ended up in 6th place after Australian Geoff Ogilvy went low for the win.
From Reuters:
Ernie Els was left to rue a pair of missed putts from inside three feet that tarnished an otherwise fine round of ball-striking at the PGA Tour’s season-opening Mercedes-Benz Championship on Friday.
“If I made some putts, I could have had a low one,” the South African world number nine told reporters after carding a four-under-par 69 in ideal scoring conditions for the second round at the Kapalua Resort.
“I knew today was the day to get a low one. I’m there but I feel like I could be a lot better. But it’s fine. It’s the first week of the year and I guess I’ve just got to be patient.”
Champion here in 2003, Els mixed seven birdies with three bogeys for a nine-under total of 137, two strokes behind pacesetting Australian Geoff Ogilvy.
Playing only his second tournament in nine weeks, the easy-swinging South African missed a short putt for par at the eighth and then for birdie at the 12th.
“I never really made the putts I made yesterday,” Els said, after totalling 29 putts during Friday’s second round.
“I just want to score the way I’m playing. That’s my whole deal. I feel like I’m (losing) at least two or three shots out there every day.”
Els makes his next start later this week for the Sony Open at Waialae Country Club, an event he has won twice before in 2003 and 2004.
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February 3rd, 2009 at 10:40 am
Ernie did well. We’re looking forward to seeing him next year plus Tiger plus rising stars like Anthony Kim (who nearly double eagled the home hole this year).