Four-time Major winning Ernie Els believes he’s gained an big edge on this month’s U.S. Open field after playing all four rounds of the Irish Open at Newcastle, Northern Ireland.
Els birdied the last hole in a one-over par 72 for a 10-over par tally in continuing bright but windy conditions on the Royal County Down course.
The South African recorded one eagle, eight birdies but also 18 bogeys and a double bogey over the four rounds to complete his play just inside the top-50, and in his first Irish Open appearance in 17 years.
Els was travelling straight to Dublin and onto London before a return flight to the States ahead of teeing-up in Thursday’s starting Jack Nicklaus hosted Memorial in Dublin, Ohio.
Ernie Els reckons he’s gained an edge of his US Open rivals in contesting the Irish Open. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
He then has a week off before journeying to Washington State and the June 18th commencing U.S. Open at Chambers Bay in suburban Tacoma.
“After four days here at Royal County Down it will make Chambers Bay look like it’s on steroids,” said Els.
“This course was tricky but then I hear Chambers Bay is really tricky and I’m glad I played here this week as this will have been great practice heading up there to Washington State.
“You’re going to get all those links type shots from uneven lies, putting in wind and sometimes rain, so this will be a great test for Chambers Bay even though most of the guys going there have never played the golf course.
“Fortunately, I’ve got a week off after the Memorial so that’s good. I didn’t do too much this week and for the most part, I was lying low.
“But then I’m sure when I get to Chambers Bay my links type game will be pretty sharp.
“So I think it will help me given most of the guys will be looking at playing four practice rounds, so I may be able to cut back on my practice schedule that week given what I felt I have gained in playing all four rounds this week.”
Conditions over the four days at Royal County Down reminded him of the conditions the field endured on day three of the 2002 Open Championship at Muirfield where Els captured a first Major and also the second day of the rain-affected and similar very windy 2010 Open Championship at St. Andrews.
“I remember the 2010 Open clearly as we were called off the course on the second hole and went back out and s
Ernie Els driving off during this week’s Irish Open. (Photo – Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
hot 80 after a nice first round 69, but then that’s golf,” he said.
“Then we had that day at Muirfield back in ’02 and that was brutal, so it was good to come out in front after that test.
“But then coming here to Royal County Down I expected these tough conditions and it didn’t prove anyone wrong.
“The rain made the course play a little soft but what a test and we should play more links golf, and this also is going to be great going forward for me given Chambers Bay is links-like and then a month later we’ve got The Open on the Old Course.
“Then you have to throw in Whistling Straits and the PGA Championship as that’s another links type test, so that’s three Majors in a row on links courses even though Chambers Bay and Whistling Straits are manufactured links courses.
“So in leaving here now I feel that having played four tournament rounds on one of the great links courses in the world that Royal County Down is, I think I may have done a lot more homework heading to Chambers Bay than a lot of other guys who didn’t play here this week.
“It’s been great to come back to Ireland and help support Rory (McIlroy) and the work he’s doing with his Foundation, and while the golf was very demanding I just enjoyed myself so much out there over the four days,” he also said to Reuters.
“But then in saying that it presented a tough test for all us and to be honest I wasn’t expecting to be this tough.
“I’m not sure if I will be back next year as we’re not sure where the Irish Open is being played in ’16.
“For the time being all I am worried about is getting back home to Florida and shed some of this clothing and enjoy some warmer weather.”
