Throughout my career, I’ve been sponsored by several different equipment companies – Lynx, Titleist, Callaway. – Ernie Els
For the average player, most three-putts happen because of a poorly judged first putt from long range. – Ernie Els
I use a 1994 South African 5 rand coin to mark my ball. It reminds me of my ’94 U.S. Open win at Oakmont. – Ernie Els
I almost never hit a shot all out, and I make a conscious effort to swing my long clubs just as I do my wedges. Keep this in mind when hitting your fairway woods. – Ernie Els
From a good lie in the middle of a fairway bunker, I’ll make the same swing as I do from an average fairway lie. I’ll dig my feet in slightly and keep my lower body stable so I won’t slip, but I don’t change my club selection or setup. It’s only when the ball is sitting down in the sand that I’ll make some modifications. – Ernie Els
I’ve got my life. I’m very serious about my business. I’ve got my family. And I’ve got my game. – Ernie Els
Check the card before you play. If you have a couple of long par 3s, put an extra hybrid in your bag. You’ll be glad you did. – Ernie Els
One of my tendencies is to let the ball drift too far forward in my stance, and it’s something I’ve been working on with David Leadbetter. – Ernie Els
Before you take your address, while you’re still reading the putt, imagine the ball tracking on the line you’ve chosen and falling into the cup. If you don’t believe you can make every putt, why bother trying? – Ernie Els
Grip pressure – not mechanical flaws – is the biggest factor when you’re nervous. You unconsciously grip it tighter, which keeps you from making a smooth swing with a natural release. Keep your grip pressure light, and you’ll be surprised how much your mechanics stabilize. – Ernie Els
The good kind of spin – backspin – comes from hitting the ball cleanly, then making a divot after impact. – Ernie Els
You have to know how to read your lie and take a calculated risk when you hit out of the rough. – Ernie Els
With shorter clubs, your ball position should be just back of middle, to really promote hitting the ball first on a downward strike. – Ernie Els
The key is to hit the ball first, then the sand. Even if you catch it a bit thin, you’ll still get plenty of run. Hitting it fat is what you want to avoid. – Ernie Els
It is just a crazy life as a sportsman. My daughter, Sam, wants to go into tennis, and I tell her, ‘No, you don’t want to go into professional sport.’ – Ernie Els
I plot the par 5s back from the green and make my plan. If I can reach the green in two shots, I’m going to be aggressive off the tee. But if ‘s a three-shot hole, the goal changes. You want to put yourself in position to hit your favorite shot to the green. – Ernie Els
You don’t have to be long off the tee, and we know the amazing effect an Open crowd can have if you’re on your game and how they can lift you. – Ernie Els
