CHUBB CLASSIC PRESENTED BY SERVPRO

February 13, 2025

Ernie Els

Tiburón Golf Club

Press Conference

Q. Ernie, thanks for joining us for joining us here at the Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO. Third start of the season. How is it to be here in Naples?

ERNIE ELS: Well, it's nice. Really nice. The weather has been fantastic so far. I see we're going to have a pretty good weather week. The golf course is in great shape. Played the pro-am this morning.

So, listen, we played Hawai'i, went to Morocco, and back it Florida. We've been all over the place and it's nice to be back in Florida and nice to play at the Chubb.

Q. Can you speak to the specific test that Tiburon provides for this week?

ERNIE ELS: Yeah, so the course is a narrow golf course. You know, you got to keep it in play, especially off the tees. When you're in position then you can kind of go at it a little bit.

Depending on weather conditions, if there is a lot of wind it's always tough to get your club selection going. Golf course is in great shape. Players are playing well they can score this week.

Q. Speaking of playing well, you won at Hualalai; third last week in Morocco. Talk about your season up to this point.

ERNIE ELS: Yeah, very nice start obviously. Really great to win finally in Hawai'i. Was really a lot of tough golf going down the stretch, tough plays. Bernhard and Miguel and Alex Cejka. It was a really great finish there.

Then went to Morocco and very different course but a very tough challenge. I was fortunate enough to finish third there. I'm kind of really looking forward to this week. Nice to be back in Florida.

Q. Do you feel like the offseason gave you kind of a reset, or do you feel like it's a continuation of the success you had last year with three victories?

ERNIE ELS: Yeah, I think last year I found a bit of form here and there, especially over the summer. I didn't quite finish the year off the way I wanted to. Had a nice offseason in South Africa. Spent time with the family and had a great holiday.

Then kind of surprised myself, but I found good form in Hawai'i, and love the golf course. Feel like I'm swinging good and my body feels good. I'll go with that.

Q. On that note, what are your goals for the year as a whole?

ERNIE ELS: Goal for the year is always try and be consistent and try and be in the hunt as many times as I can, and then if the victories come your way, great. If not, you got to just keep your head down and plug away.

Just kind of more of the same.

Q. After your Senior Open you mentioned you were tinkering with your fundamentals. Curious, what did you do? Seems like you had such a great year. Any changes that you kept that's helped you?

ERNIE ELS: Yeah, no, it's always a couple technical little tinkering that we do in our game. My whole career the ball position -- you know, when I play, the ball creeps up in my stance a little bit and I have to keep it back in my stance.

That forces me to really make a full backswing. It's when I make the half back swings that I don't really commit to the shot. So that and really aiming correctly and keeping my grip the right way.

My grip also gets a little strong sometimes so got to keep it very neutral. Little things that creep into my game.