Four-time Major winning Ernie Els fought off a bout of food poisoning to take his place in the third round of the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in Doha.
Els looked almost certain to miss Thursday’s halfway cut when he bogeyed his closing two holes in a score of 76 and nine shots more than his opening 67 for a one under par total.
The current World No. 29 was resigned to sitting out the closing two rounds in the $US 2.5m until Ireland’s Damien McGrane, and competing in the second last group of the day, failed to birdie the last hole that meant a dozen players on one under par, including Els, were assured of contesting all four founds in the Qatar capital.
Ernie Els struggles with a stomach bug, jet lag and a far from friendly putter in Doha. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
Els was out on day three at an early 7.17am (local time) and ended his round four hours later with a 71 to move to two under par.
“It was a good cut to make in the end as I well out of sorts on the back nine yesterday struggling with some food poisoning and also trying to play my way back into the tournament,” he said.
“I felt really run down also with jet lag, so my energy level was really low.
“So I was quite surprise right near the end of the day that one under par made it, and I guess we have Damien McGrane to thank for that.”
This year is Els’ 25th anniversary season in the professional ranks after turning pro in 1989.
However there had also been no celebration on the greens on Thursday with Els recording 33 putts using the belly putter that took him to victory in the 2012 British Open.
“I was horrible on the greens so I went back to the short putter today and that was a big improvement, and I am hoping to stay with that putter now,” he said.
“I still had a couple of three putts out there today but it’s just a process I’m going through.
“Apart the putting the new equipment and everything is great and I’m getting plenty of positive feedback.
“I’ve played plenty of social golf in recent weeks, including shooting a course record 61 at the course I designed at Oubaai near George back home, but to play tournament golf is a different thing.
“So really, I am not far off and compared to this time last year I am a whole lot better.”
Els ended his round an hour ahead Spain’s Rafa Cabrera-Bella teeing as a two shot leader on 13-under par.
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