BRITISH OPEN Ernie Els struggling to avoid elimination
The defending champion had his worst score ever at the Open -- 78.
SANDWICH, England (AP) -- As Ernie Els lumbered toward the 18th green, nearing the end of a long day, the crowd in the half-filled grandstands rose to salute the defending British Open champion.
A moment of triumph? Hardly. These cheers were pure sympathy.
The Big Easy, trying to become the first golfer in 20 years to win back-to-back British titles, had to focus on a more basic task today: making the cut.
Putting is problem
Hindered by a shaky putting stroke, Els posted a 7-over-par 78 in Thursday's opening round -- his worst score ever at the Open.
The 6-foot-3 South African simply couldn't cope with the 30 mph wind gusts whipping off Sandwich Bay, making it difficult to stabilize himself when he stood over the ball. Thirty-four putts -- about five above his PGA Tour average -- sent his score spiraling. Els couldn't even manage to make one birdie.
"My swing was not all that great, but I threw away too many shots with my short game," he said.
Els had a trio of three-putts on the front nine, not to mention some missed birdie chances, and made the turn at 40. His frustration was epitomized at the 420-yard fifth hole, when he drove to the edge of the green with the wind at his back but needed three more strokes to get down for par.
"When the wind is blowing that hard, and you're my height, it's hard to stay steady," he said. "I threw away maybe four or five shots."
So much for that expected duel with Tiger Woods, who had his own problems. The world's No. 1 player lost his ball on his very first shot, took a triple-bogey and wound up shooting 73.
Els was five strokes worse -- and a whopping 10 shots behind the surprise leader, Hennie Otto.
Work ahead
"I have a lot of work to do," Els said. "If I can get back to even by the end of Sunday, that would be a [heck] of a tournament for me."
Would that be good enough to win?
"It won't be far off," Els replied, managing a smile and a bit of hope.
Actually, he seemed to handle the adversity in stride. When an errant drive at No. 17 scattered the gallery along the right side of the fairway, he shrugged his shoulders and smiled. He grinned again after saving par.