He putted the ball past the hole, then back again, then again and again.
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Before leaving Augusta, Els made sure that quintuple-bogey 9 didn’t become the thing that defines him, making it clear he intends to fight through his putting woes. “A lot of people have stopped playing the game”. I’ve got a 3-footer. I’ve made thousands of 3-footers and I just couldn’t take it back.
But Els just could not get the ball in the hole.
Even Els admitted he couldn’t keep track of the humbling misery as it unfolded miss after miss, swatting putts from inside two feet that failed to fall time and again. The big South African was just 5 over on the hole, which compares quite favorably when compared to a four-time victor like Tiger Woods, who is 15 over at No. 1 in 78 rounds.
Els ended with a score of 80 for a round of 8-over par, and 14 shots adrift of day one leader and defending champion Jordan Spieth.
“I know he’s disappointed with his start”, the elder Haas said.
It was the highlight to the opening act of Watson’s swan song at the Masters. Els then left the ball 10 inches from the cup only to push the ball past the hole. “To see Justin make it and Rickie follow, that’s got to be the first time in the par-three contest”, Spieth said. “I’ve got to address whatever the issue is and see if I can make it better”. It was a pleasure to be able to play in front of them. But he also missed a 4-footer on 17 and a 2-footer on 18.
Els had a putt of three feet or so on the slick, sloping green yesterday, then he had a headache and a nightmare.
Though he drove it wide right, Els recovered nicely and was hole-high left, from where he played a deft pitch to 3 feet.
There were six eagles in the first round, three each on Nos.
He was optimistic again, despite four bogeys and four birdies.
“I actually thought it was a patient round”, he said. “I would have taken even par to start the day”.
Today’s incident wasn’t nearly as bad, but the first hole at the Masters may now always be a bad omen for Els, as the media will likely focus on the two occurrences over the past two days in future tournaments.
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There was a funereal hush while the 46-year-old veteran warmed up on the practice putting green behind the first tee as if they has been a death in the golfing family. “I’ve been playing really well”.
