When Ernie Els steps to the first tee for today’s final round of the Buick Classic, he’ll do it knowing he can win at Westchester CC merely because he’s done it before. Twice.
In fact, Els, one shot behind Duffy Waldorf at 6-under par, is the all-time leading money winner in this event, having cashed $686,058.33 in five starts here entering this week. He won in 1996 and 1997, finished second in 1994 and tied for fourth in 1995.
“That’s got to give me confidence,” Els said of his previous success here. “The course is starting to play to its potential with the dried greens and the high rough. I really enjoy the golf course. I know how to score around this place.
“I think I played myself back into the tournament,” Els said. “I’m happy with my 68 I’ll go out [today] and try to do the same thing.”
The subject of the U.S. Open keeps coming up – because it’s this week and because the conditions here – hard, fast and with a lot of high rough – represent what the conditions should be like at Pebble Beach.
“I try not to think about the Open, but when you have conditions like this it’s hard not to think of the Open,” said Els, a two-time U.S. Open champion. “If you’re not on your game here it’ll show.”
Els said he could feel the crowd swelling as he and Phil Mickelson (also at 6-under and a shot off the lead) kept playing.
“I could see the gallery getting larger on the back nine as we started to make a run at the leaders,” Els said. “That was fun. Today I felt like I played really well. This was the best day I’ve had all week. I feel like my game is really coming around. I feel like I’m playing well enough to win – especially at Westchester.”
Els sounded like a player who craves a victory entering this week’s second major of the season.
“A win would be great for me now,” Els said. “I haven’t won since last February.”