Dubai: Ernie Els was considering a career change last season, but now the South African says his short game is on the up and he still has plenty to prove heading into this weekend’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club.
The 46-year-old holds the record for most wins (three), lowest 18-hole score (61) and biggest winning margin (six shots) at this event, all factors that will inspire him despite a torrid run of form.
Big Easy’s last win came at the BMW Invitational in 2013 where he used the now banned belly-putter to steady his erring short game. However, the four-time Major winner has since struggled to perfect an alternative grip to combat the yips, which are involuntary twitches that often plague golfers in older age.
His missed short-range tap in at last season’s Alfred Dunhill Championship was branded “the worst putt ever” after it went viral online, and it set the tempo for a season where his highest finish was tied for 12th in 11 events.
“I’ve had some bad years but last year was probably the worst,” he said. “I mean, you cannot play if you can’t putt. You might as well find another job. So I was thinking that for a while.
“But during the South African Open [last month] I changed to the left-hand low method, and I feel a lot more comfortable. My scores haven’t really shown it yet but I feel like things are coming around,” added Els, who finished tied for 29 at last week’s Qatar Masters.
“From being really terrible on the greens, which is probably an understatement to being 100 per cent from five feet and in last week, you know, that’s the improvement I was looking for.
“Now I’m looking forward to this year. We’ve got some great tournaments coming up. I’d love to make a bit of noise this year for as much as I can.” Why didn’t he just pack it in when the going got tough?
“I get that question a lot now. You’re getting into your late 40s, what are you still doing out here? It’s a young man’s game.
“I still want to prove something to myself. Like I say, I had a terrible time on the greens and I feel that can’t really leave you. If you’re good, it doesn’t leave you. You’ve got to prove it to yourself. I think I’m the same as any other golfer of my age and generation – we want to play until we die, in our minds we are not done yet, and I’m not done yet.
“That’s why I really try to get over the problems I had last year on the greens. I was determined to try and get over it. There were days when I thought I’d never get rid of it, but you know, keep going. I still feel I’ve got some golf left in me.”
He added: “The consistency is something that is going to be tough to keep up. But I do feel there are horses for courses and there are horses for Majors and so forth. It’s been proven through the years - Tom Watson, Ray Floyd at the Masters, Hale Irwin at the US Open, at 45. So those things have happened. But obviously at 46, you don’t have the consistency of these youngsters. But there’s still room for us.”
