AUGUSTA, Georgia, April 7 Ernie Els suffered an embarrassing start to his 22nd Masters when he required seven putts from a short distance on the first green to post a record-high 10 on the par-four hole in Thursday’s opening round.
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As for Els, his confidence is flooding back after a return to health and a reunion with his old coach.
He’s won four major titles, including two U.S. Opens.
An excruciating watch, Els was going round in circles as he kept putting wide of the hole from close-range.
The 46-year-old South African has a pair of runner-up finishes at Augusta National, in 2000 and 2004.
“You have to play smart here and there”.
Els reunited on Monday with his former swing coach David Leadbetter. Then his approach shot shanked somewhere off into the woods? “It was great to have him around”. I just feel bad. Do you think you could do better than Els?
Els is playing the first two rounds with Australia’s Jason Day who didn’t seem distracted by the incident, making eagle at the second hole and birdie at the 5th.
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“He’s got a lot of confidence”. He hits it a little bit flat but he’s long enough.
