PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — When Ernie Els looks back on winning his first U.S. Open 16 years ago, he wonders what he was he was thinking.
“I’m 40 years old now,” he said yesterday. “When I look back now, it’s amazing when I think I was 24 when I won this event at Oakmont. I must have been out of my head to think I could have won at 24.”
Els certainly isn’t crazy for thinking he can win the 110th U.S. Open this weekend at Pebble Beach, especially after yesterday’s 3-under-par 68 that put him at 1-under heading into today’s third round. He emerged as the best player of a featured pairing that included Tiger Woods and England’s Lee Westwood, who garnered more pre-tournament attention than Els, despite Els having won his second U.S. Open at Congressional in 1997. But the smooth-swinging South African stole their thunder yesterday, taming a very dangerous Pebble Beach and looking like someone ready to win his fourth major.
“It’s got a look in a way of links golf,” Els said after a round played under cloudy skies with a steady breeze off the ocean. “It’s almost links golf on steroids with the rough and the grass around the bunkers. I really like the setup. The ball runs, which I like.”
Els climbing up the leaderboard and Phil Mickelson getting into contention as well adds some much needed star appeal heading into a weekend where Woods figures to be irrelevant. Though he could get himself into contention with a good two rounds, Woods continued to look mediocre yesterday with a 1-over-par 72. He’s four over heading into the weekend.
But who needs Tiger? With Els and Mickelson in the mix, it should be an interesting 36 holes (or more) where the golf may not always be as beautiful as the scenery. Let’s face it. Woods has spoiled us for more than decade winning all those majors in dramatic fashion. Now it’s time for others like Els to shine.
“There’s still a lot of golf to be played,” Els said. “You’ve got to plug along and see what happens on the back nine on Sunday.”
Like Woods, Els didn’t like the “bumpy” greens on Thursday afternoon, but unlike Woods, he didn’t complain about it. Instead, he went to the putting green late Thursday and worked on his stroke in preparation for yesterday’s round. After a 2-over-par 73 on Thursday, Els got hot with the putter yesterday morning, rolling in five birdies against two bogeys.
Starting his round at the 10th hole, he got some early momentum when a 15-foot putt rolled in for birdie at the par-4 11th. He made a five-footer for birdie at the par-4 13th, and a 12-footer for birdie at the par-5 18th. He also made an 8-footer for birdie at the par-4 fourth hole.
“I needed a round like that to get me back in the tournament,” Els said. “I feel comfortable with my game. I worked really hard coming in here. So I feel my game’s there, because you need your game around a U.S. Open venue.”
Even without Woods, there should be plenty of suspense. You wondered if Els would ever be in contention for another major after his game went south following knee injury in 2005.
But after winning back-to-back events at Doral and the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this year, he became a popular choice to win the Masters. Nonetheless, he finished tied for 18th at Augusta, admitting he was a “a bit over golfed.”
Now he’s geared for a big finish at Pebble Beach, perhaps awaiting a back nine showdown tomorrow with a surging Mickelson. That would provide plenty of drama. Who needs Tiger?