Ernie Els was not on many peoples’ radars as a potential winner going into the final round of the US PGA Championship at Valhalla, but at one point during his fine closing six under par 65, the South African himself believed getting to 14 under par was a possibility.
With such high quality golf being played by the leaders that number might not have been good enough, but it is testament to Els’ round, and confidence, that he was targeting another come-from-behind Major triumph.
“I felt that my game was in such great shape that I could get to 14 under,” said Els. “That meant that I needed to make five birdies in ten holes, which I felt was really on.
“I fell short and a bogey on 17 obviously hurt a little bit. But I thought if I got to 14 I might have half a chance.”
The ‘Big Easy’, who eventually finished at 11 under par for the Championship, made four straight birdies from the third, and added another at nine to go out in just 30 shots.
That run had some reminiscing of when the four-time Major Champion came from six shots back on the final day of the 2012 Open Championship to snatch the Claret Jug from Adam Scott, and although the 44 year old could not recreate those final day heroics from Royal Lytham & St Annes, he still has much to be positive about.
“It could have been something really special,” said Els. “But I'm still quite pleased with that considering how I’ve been playing all season long. I haven’t really been on my game.
“So I've been working hard on certain aspects of my game, and it worked today as I had it going unbelievably. I felt like I could birdie every hole, I just had that momentum going. I tried to hang in there on the back nine, but it wasn’t to be.”
