Precariously clinging to his position on the rapidly changing leaderboard, Ernie Els was grateful Saturday's third round of the Masters was suspended at dusk.
Whipped by bitterly cold winds, the South African fell four shots behind leader Vijay Singh with a pair of bogeys. Abused by the abnormally fierce conditions, Els wasted little time retreating to the warm confines of the clubhouse when play was suspended after he completed the 15th hole.
Bogeys on Nos. 3 and 12 prevented the two-time U.S. Open champion from ascending the leaderboard along with Singh, who was 7-under after 14 holes when play was stopped. Inclement weather suspended play for more than two hours and pushed back half the field's tee times.
Els was relieved to get a reprieve and will hit from the 16th tee at 8:15 a.m. to complete his third round.
``It was a very tough day out there,'' Els said. ``It was brutal and it was tough to focus. It was very windy, very difficult. The first hole, there was no breeze. After that, it just never stopped blowing.''
After firing a 67 in Friday's second round, Els could not maintain his hot play in the face of the elements. The 30-year-old's short game was hampered the most by Mother Nature's wrath.
``It affected putts....short putts...a lot of putts,'' Els said. ``I tried to hang in there. It was a tough day.''
Tied for third with Loren Roberts entering today's play, Els also trails David Duval, who is second at 4-under par. Els' best Masters showing is an eighth-place finish in 1994.
Staggering Els very grateful for third-round stoppage