MERCEDES CHAMPIONSHIPS

January 11, 2001

Ernie Els

ERNIE ELS: 18 was nice.

ERNIE ELS: I hit a nice drive down there, downwind, hit a 5-iron into the green from about 250. That doesn't mean anything because it's downhill, downwind and stuff. I hit it to about six feet, I would say, made a putt. Simple as that. You know, I had quite a few opportunities on the Back 9. 16 I had about five feet. I missed that. 14, I missed from about ten feet. Actually, 17 also I also missed from about 12 feet. A couple opportunities. 18, obviously made up for that. The one big mistake I made today on the par 5, No. 5. I hit a good drive down there, 192 to the hole. Misread the wind. I must have misread the wind. I hit the wrong club there. Came up way short in the hazard, short of the green. I had to drop from about 130 yards out. I hit it on the green, 2-putted for bogey from about 15 feet. It wasn't one of my happier moments on a golf course (smiling). But I played okay from there. I kept the ball in play. I hit some good shots. You know, I played a nice solid round of golf.

ERNIE ELS: Last year at this time, that's a full year ago, I was coming out of '99 season, a lot of things happened. I didn't play very well that season. Especially the year before, '98, I didn't play well either. The main problem was my performances in the majors. You know, I think before '98 I had a very good record in the majors. For some reason, '98, '99, I didn't play well in them. I felt like I lost out a little bit, you know, on confidence, whatever it was. I just didn't feel like I was the same player as I was in '97. Coming here and playing so well was one thing, but I don't think I had that extra, which you need.

ERNIE ELS: Yeah, more in that direction. I'm closer to where I want to be, yeah, definitely. Not quite there.

ERNIE ELS: Yeah. I mean, you know, it always helps your year when you start off pretty strong. I played a good Masters, which was very early in the year. It's the first week in April. My game was almost back on form by then. I think the start I made here was good. I think, again, this year I want to try to do the same. I want to get off to a strong start. I definitely want to try and win a couple more times this year. You know, I just want to get into that Sunday afternoon group of players where you have a chance to win. That's all you can ask for.

ERNIE ELS: I think as a player, yeah, it kind of goes against our beliefs (laughter). You know, if you can see it, you can probably play it. That's kind of what we want to believe in, you know. You know, sometimes it definitely works in your favor. You know, I think most of the guys have some kind of skill, out of any kind of a situation, we definitely try and go in there and have the belief that we can get the ball out and do it. So, yeah, I do whatever I can to not take a penalty drop. I would say I'm also in that group of players (laughter).

ERNIE ELS: Today?

ERNIE ELS: Did that there last year, as well.

ERNIE ELS: Yeah.

ERNIE ELS: He had a chance, he had a chance (laughter). He's a little different out of that stuff than any of us, you know. Showed that a couple of times.