Els has victory in sight after US drought
Ernie Els describes himself as “very happy where I am right now” – not just on the leaderboard at the Bay Hill Invitational, but also in his build-up to the Masters.
Without a victory in America since June 2004, Els is only a stroke behin Bart Bryant and Dean Wilson after an opening five-under-par 67 in Orlando.
The South African, who missed the second half of last season because of surgery on the knee he injured in a sailing accident, said: “It’s given me time to get my game back in shape.
“I’m happy with where I am. I’ve had some slow starts the last couple of weeks and had to play well just to make the cuts, but now I’ve got a good start and I’m in the mix.”
The knee is standing up well to all the exercise it is now getting, he added, but “I’m compensating in the rest of my body for the knee. I’ve got little pains everywhere else in my body – I won’t tell you where at the moment.
“Sometimes the knee is a little tighter than other days, so you’re thinking about it a little bit more. But I’m over the worst in my head.”
An eagle putt of nearly 50 feet on the long sixth, a hole which has caused him no end of problems in the past, was the highlight of his round.
But late bloomer Bryant, whose three wins on the US Tour have all come since he turned 40, had an eagle of his own on the 16th and Wilson, a 36-year-old from Hawaii yet to taste victory, had six birdies to share the lead.
World number one Tiger Woods, four times a winner just in this tournament and seeking his fourth win in six starts this year, was four under with three to play, but three-putted the seventh and also bogeyed the eighth after finding the rough.
“I didn’t feel very good over the ball today – putts, chips, full shots, you name it, everything.” he said after his 70.
“Just one of those weird days where I just didn’t have it. Somehow I just tried to piece it together and I did that until the last few holes.”
Ryder Cup partners Lee Westwood and Sergio Garcia led the European challenge overnight following four-under 68s.
For Westwood it was a fine response after back-to-back 77s last weekend at the Honda Classic and for Garcia it was going even better until he finished with a three-putt bogey.
Justin Rose and Greg Owen, trying to qualify for the Masters, matched Woods’ score, while Nick Faldo and Colin Montgomerie posted one-under 71s.
That was good enough for a share of 39th spot, but with level par the projected cut Montgomerie still has work to do to avoid a third successive early exit.
Ian Poulter birdied two of his last four holes just for a 72, but Brian Davis, also with no place at Augusta at present, dropped three shots in the last two holes to be on the same mark – and that after an eagle at the 16th.
Darren Clarke could do no better than 73 and Paul Lawrie, playing in his first event in America since the 2004 US Open, is down on 75 and joint 99th of the 120-strong field.
