Legend Els reckons McIlroy can do what he couldn’t and pull on Green Jacket
NEIL McLEMAN
at Augusta National ERNIE ELS last night insisted Rory McIlroy can avoid his fate and win multiple Masters titles if he keeps “a good attitude”.
The Big Easy never won a Green Jacket despite six top-ten finishes and claimed his game was too “atrocious” to feel emotional about his 23rd and probable last appearance at Augusta.
McIlroy has now tried and failed to win the Masters nine times – and three times since his 2014 Open win where he completed the third leg of his Grand Slam.
The 27-year-old came closest in 2011 when he took a four-shot lead into the final round and collapsed with an 80.
McIlroy admitted before teeing up here that every year that passes his Masters bid will become “increasingly difficult”. Young stars like Thomas Pieters and Jon Rahm, who both made impressive debuts, will be serious contenders in years to come.
But Els said: “Rory is so young still. He’s played quite a few, he’s had a couple of chances already. It doesn’t seem like it’s burned him too much in the way he speaks about some of his close calls. And if he keeps a good attitude, I think he’s fine.
“He has the perfect game for Augusta. And whether you keep saying it or not, it’s a fact.
“I’m sure he can win it. And if he gets that first one, he can win a few.
“He’s got an all-around great game and he’s longer than I was at that age. And you need to be really long around here.”
Els, now 47, has slipped down to world No.410 and was here for the last year on his five-year exemption for winning the 2012 Open.
And the four-time Major winner admitted he never recovered mentally from 2004 when he held the clubhouse lead only for Phil Mickelson to nail a long birdie putt on the final green.
It was an unfitting Masters end for a great champion yesterday as he played with marker Jeff Knox in the first group of the day and shot a 78 to finish 20 over par.
Els said: “The crowd gave me a nice applause here and there and it was just nice to play.
“The negative is just that my play was atrocious and that’s the hard part to take. But if I look back, how many professional golfers get the opportunity to play the Masters 23 times? And having a chance to win it a couple of times was special.
“This tournament is just not for me. I’ve won a lot of events around the world but this one just eluded me and that’s fine.”
Asked to recalled his good memories from Augusta National, Els laughed and said: “I got to go back maybe a decade or more. No, I think the very first time was very special in 1994. I had a couple of really great groupings, I played with Ben Crenshaw that year, I played with Jose Maria Olazabal in the third round that year, he went on to win.
“And then, obviously, the times I came close. I think 2004 was a really special Sunday for myself. It’s just been a special, special time for 23, 24 years.”
After his 1994 debut, Els won his next Major at the US Open. He said: “I think I learned something here.
“I loved putting on these greens, and I still do, believe it or not. And that’s definitely the thing that helped me for Oakmont.”
Els will be able to play The Open till he is 65 as a previous winner but his US Open appearance in June could also be his last – the 20th anniversary of his 1997 win.
He needs to get back into the top 50 or win again to play the other Majors.
The South African added: “I’m going to go out there at the US Open and try and play – I’m too young to get sentimental. I’ve still got some time left.
“I think there’s still obviously a chance. I’m still trying to win a Tour event to get to 20. If I win one, I will be back at Augusta. If not, I have had a good time.”
He has the perfect game for Augusta ... if he wins one he can win a few ERNIE ELS