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Closer Look Els masters Saturday afternoon wind
Posted: Sunday June 18, 2000 12:03 PM
By Ryan Hunt, CNNSI.com PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Colin Montgomerie called it amazing. David Duval could only shake his head. How Ernie Els managed to break par in the brutal gale at Pebble Beach on Saturday was more than a mystery to them. Somehow, Els managed to figure out the stiff winds en route to 3-under 68, which was the lone subpar round of the day and five strokes better than he shot in each of the first two round. "It's probably the best 68 I've ever shot," said Els, who had eight prior rounds in the 60s in Open play. "When I got to the seventh tee, that's when [the wind] started blowing, but by then I already had an eagle and a birdie. So I got off to the start I wanted to. I just had to hang in there." Hanging in there is what Els had trouble with in the first two rounds. The '94 and '97 Open winner struggled to 5-over par after 36 holes, shooting 74 and 73. But the fourth hole Saturday seemed to turn everything around for Els. After a strong drive, the South African holed a sand wedge from 97 yards out on the par-4, 331-yard hole. It was only the second eagle at No. 4 in the four Opens at Pebble Beach. "It was the kickstart I needed," Els said. "I couldn't see the ball go in the hole. It goes uphill and I could see the ball bounce, but I couldn't see the bottom of the flag. I saw the crowd get quite excited but I wasn't sure if it was an inch away or in the hole." But what's scary is the shots Els left on the course. After a birdie at 6, he erased the eagle with back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 7 and 8. But he finished strong with three birdies on the back nine (on 11, 13 and 14) -- two more than he had in the first two rounds combined. "It was amazing. He went from 37th to second, which proves it can be done," said Montgomerie, who shot 79 playing aside Els. "He played very well -- he always does when he plays with me in the U.S. Open." Els, of course, beat Montgomerie and Loren Roberts in a playoff to win in '94. He's still a long way from a playoff this year, but Els still believes anything is possible. At the very least, he'll have to repeat his phenomenal Saturday round to have a shot. "Who knows around this place?" Els said. "I played a good round of golf. I was trying to get myself back into the tournament. I've had my run-ins with Tiger in the past, but I haven't had enough. I'd like to get one more of those battles with Tiger."
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