Els commits to play in Honda Classic
Posted: Sunday March 07, 1999 08:36 AM
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Els remains with Mark O'Meara, Bernhard Langer, Nick Faldo and others scheduled to play in the Honda Classic. AP |
By Garry Smits
Times-Union sports writer
MIAMI -- After some thoughts of withdrawing, Ernie Els has decided to remain in the field for the Honda Classic, which begins March 11 at the Tournament Players Club a Heron Bay, in Coral Springs.
Els had committed to Honda even before the Doral-Ryder Open, but the day before Doral began, he said he was re-considering the Honda commitment. However, after shooting 66 in the Doral second round to work his way into contention, Els said he would play Honda.
"I think it will be really messy if I don't play," Els said. "I committed in December, and I am playing decent golf now."
By the time Els competes in The Players Championship later this month, he will have entered six consecutive events. That streak started with his victory in the Nissan Open in Los Angeles. After Honda, Els will defend his Bay Hill Invitational championship.
However, Els said because of his first-round ouster in the Andersen Consulting World Match Play Championship last week at Carlsbad, Calif., he won't feel as if was that much of a workload.
"I feel like I had a week off [at the Match Play]," Els said.
He joins a Honda field that rivals Doral for star power. Also playing will be defending champion Mark Calcavecchia, Vijay Singh of Ponte Vedra Beach, Colin Montgomerie, Mark O'Meara, Bernhard Langer, Nick Faldo, Payne Stewart, Tom Kite and Fuzzy Zoeller.
The Honda will feature five of the top 10 players on the current world rankings, and 15 of the top 30. By contrast, Doral attracted only four of the top 10 and 10 of the top 30.
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