March 20 (Reuters) – Ernie Els is disappointed and angry
after wasting a glorious chance to end his victory drought in
golf’s Transitions Championship at the weekend but feels he can
still earn a last-gasp place at next month’s U.S. Masters.
The former world number one from South Africa bogeyed the
last two holes in Florida on Sunday to finish one stroke off a
four-way playoff that was eventually won by Britain’s Luke
Donald.
“I’ve said throughout my career that whenever I tee it up I
always play to win so any time I get the opportunity to do that
and don’t get the job done obviously I’m disappointed and angry
with myself,” he said on his website (www.ernieels.com).
“That pretty much summed up my emotions on Sunday evening.
It still hurts the way I finished the tournament but I know in
my heart how well I played all week.”
Els, without a win since the four-man PGA Grand Slam of Golf
in 2010, has dropped to 62nd in the world and needs to get back
in the top 50 the week before the April 5-8 Masters to qualify
for the tournament.
The 42-year-old has not missed the opening major of the
season since 1993. He has yet to pick up the coveted Green
Jacket but finished second in 2000 and 2004.
“If at the start of last week you would have offered me
rounds of 70, 67, 68 and 67 for a 12-under-par total I’d have
liked the sound of that,” said Els.
“But my (missed) putt on 18…kind of leaves a nasty taste.
It’s a tough deal but I have to take stock and try to see the
positives.
“This was one of my best performances on the PGA Tour since
2010. I drove the ball well, topped the greens in regulation for
the week and I was right up there in the number of birdies
made.”
Continued…
