Ernie Els’ six-putt Masters horror
He had already used up three shots to get his ball on to the first green at the Masters on Thursday, but the nightmare that followed would never have entered Ernie Els’ mind before.
|||He had already used up three shots to get his ball on to the first green at the Masters on Thursday, but the nightmare that followed would never have entered Ernie Els’ mind before.
The four-times major champion used six putts from less than three feet away from the hole to record a nine, the worst ever score recorded on the first at the Masters.
The quintuple bogey put him 5-over-par, and it was clear that the “yips” had got hold of him. All those doubts and struggles he’s had with his putter over the last few years were laid bare...
And the horror show didn’t end there for the popular South African as after managing to get pars at No 2 and 3, Els bogeyed the fourth hole to go 6-over.
He pulled one shot back with his first birdie of the day at the fifth, and kept things together for five consecutive pars.
But the 46-year-old got into trouble at the par-4 11th when a 191-yard shot into the green found the greenside pond on the left, and a subsequent three-putt saw Els walk away with a double-bogey.
A second birdie of the round was just a brief respite for the 2012 Open Championship winner as Els went on to lose further shots on 17 and 18 to finish on 8-over-par 80 to be tied 81st.
It was a sobering experience for such a legendary golfer, who has won 68 professional tournaments around the world.
American defending champion and World No 2 Jordan Spieth, who grabbed the lead with a flawless 6-under-par 66 that included six birdies, told the BBC: “I feel bad for Ernie. It’s obviously in your head.
“I’ve certainly had my moments, everybody has, from short range, where they just are not confident in where they are starting it. And on Augusta National’s greens, with the wind blowing, it’s a place you certainly want to be comfortable.”
Veteran two-times champion Tom Watson said that despite the short distance of Els’ putts, they were more difficult than it had looked on a windy day at Augusta.
“It’s right at the top of the hill,” the BBC reported Watson as saying. “It can really blow up there. It’s probably the windiest green on the golf course.”
Louis Oosthuizen, who was one of the favourites for the title, was the best-placed South African as he carded an even-par 72 with three birdies and as many bogeys in an up-and-down round.
Charl Schwartzel had looked on course for a 72 as well, but an ugly seven at the par-5 15th spoiled his day, and he bogeyed 16 and 18 for a 4-over-par 76 return.
Branden Grace recorded a 3-over 75 and the fifth South African in the field, 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman, was on 5-over for a 77.
While Spieth ended on top of the leaderboard, Ireland’s Shane Lowry and New Zealand’s Danny Lee were tied for second on 4-under 68.
Firm favourite and World No 1 Jason Day from Australia started like a house on fire, but endured a disastrous back-nine to finish with a 72.
Day, who has been in red-hot form after winning his last two tournaments, was in blistering touch on the front nine by going out in 5-under 31 following an eagle on the second hole and birdies on the fifth, eighth and ninth.
But his first bogey came at the par-4 10th, and while he regained the shot with a birdie at the 13th, he had a terrible finish by going bogey, double-bogey and bogey at 15, 16 and 17.
Four-times major champion Rory McIlroy made a solid start in his bid for a maiden Masters title, but pushed the ball well beyond the hole out of a bunker at the 18th and missed the return putt to end with a 2-under-par 70.
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Top 10 and Ties
-6 Jordan Spieth (USA)
-4 Shane Lowry (Ireland), Danny Lee (New Zealand)
-3 Paul Casey (England), Justin Rose (England), Ian Poulter (England), Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark), Sergio Garcia (Spain)
-2 Billy Horschel (USA), Scott Piercy (USA), Danny Willett (England), Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)
South African Scores
Louis Oosthuizen, Even (72)
Branden Grace +3 (75)
Charl Schwartzel +4 (76)
Trevor Immelman +5 (77)
Ernie Els +8 (80)