Four-time Major Champion Ernie Els was pleased to be able to produce the big finish he needed to make the cut at the 2023 ISPS HANDA - CHAMPIONSHIP in Japan.
The South African star had looked in danger of going home early after following up two front-nine birdies with a bogey on the tenth to sit at one under par with eight holes remaining.
But the 28-time DP World Tour winner made a birdie at the 15th before a hole-out eagle from a bunker at the 16th guaranteed his progress into the weekend.
After signing for a 66 to reach four under par, the 53-year-old said: "It was a grind in the end. I knew it would be, so had to get off to a good start, which I did - I was two under through five.
"The putter went a bit cold, missed a short one on the seventh for birdie. That kept in my head all day, didn’t quite get my speed right.
"But I just tried to keep at it. I felt my rhythm was a lot better today on my full swings. And the putter feels OK, just need to get the pace right.
"The finish did it for me. I needed a big finish, I wanted to be here for the weekend, so it’s nice.
"I just need to build on where I’m at. It feels quite normal, the swing and the strike. Playing with Rasmus (Højgaard) it feels like I should be playing a tee up, but I feel like I played my game today.
"I kept at it, and the grind was good, which I was happy with."
