Fuente: © Southern Africa Tour
http://www.sunshinetour.com/

GOLF: SOUTHERN AFRICA TOUR: Els ends long PGA Tour victory drought at Honda Classic

/noticias.info/ They call him 'The Big Easy' but Ernie Els had been feeling far from laid back until Sunday's Honda Classic triumph on the PGA Tour put that ‘easy’ smile back on his face.

The South African, without a victory in the U.S. for nearly four years, came from behind to win the tournament with a three- under-par round final round of 67.

The beaming Els looked a different man to the edgy character who arrived in Florida after suffering a first-round exit at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship six days ago.

Els said recent disappointments, including letting victory slip from his grasp in Dubai, made Sunday's win taste even better.

"It has to feel sweeter, losing so many tournaments and then now one actually going my way," said the 38-year-old who said he had sorely missed the buzz that victory brings.

"I guess we get addicted to that feeling and when you don't get your rush, so to speak, you miss it. I definitely missed winning over here," he said.

Els has been working with sports psychologist Bob Rotella who shadowed him around the course on Sunday and the South African acknowledged his influence.

"He's just such a wonderful guy and he's gotten to know me a little bit better now and he basically just wants me to be Ernie Els again, to be kind of like the Big Easy again," said Els.

"I've been a little bit uptight and a little grumpy basically because I've been trying to get better and win those tournaments.

"You have either bad luck or bad play but whatever happened to you, you start getting a little uptight. So he's been trying to relax me a little," he added.

At the end of 2006, Els made a three-year plan to overtake Tiger Woods at the top of the rankings but he has since watched his American rival further cement his position as the undisputed world number one.

"I am 38 right now, and I can quite easily go and enjoy being with my kids and go build golf courses and stuff," Els said. "But I really still want to achieve a lot in the game, and I still want to win a lot.

"I just felt that's the kind of goal for me to really strive for and practise for. So I'm not sure where I am right now, but we'll see."

Els shot a final round five-under-par 67 for a total score of six-under to pip Britain's Luke Donald by a shot and land his first U.S. PGA Tour title since the 2004 Memorial tournament.

Els stormed into the lead with four birdies in the opening nine holes and he remained bogey free until the 17th.

"I am so excited, it has been a long time coming. It is a great feeling, I feel really relieved," he told reporters.

"It has been a tough ride for everyone but ultimately you have to believe you can do it."

A gusty breeze on a tough course made for a tight contest where a few errors were always going to make the difference.

Els said the wind may have been an important factor.

"When you are chasing you need tough conditions. So I was happy the wind blew.I'm not a bad wind player and I felt comfortable with that," he said.

Joint overnight leader Donald, who won the event in 2006, bogeyed four holes but was in with a chance right until the end of the par-five 18th.

From a decent fairway position, Donald drove his third shot far right of the hole on to the verge of the green but his chip fell short to end his hopes of forcing a playoff.

After finishing third at the Northern Trust Open in California last month, Donald said his second place was confirmation of his progress.

"There is a lot to build on, these are very encouraging results. I feel like I'm learning every week and getting better for it," he said.

Mark Calcavecchia had been neck and neck with Els through much of the day but his chance went with a bizarre double bogey on the 15th when a bunker shot from the back of the green rolled off the putting surface and lodged in the rocks.

The experienced American finished tied fourth on three under, level with Australians Robert Allenby and Matt Jones.

"It didn't go my way, it wasn't my time. I hit it in the water three times. I said that I had to keep my ball dry and if I had done that it would have been a very different story," Calcavecchia said.

Australian Nathan Green fired a final-round three-under 67 to finish third, a shot behind Donald. notas_de_prensa_archivo