Sunday 9 April 2017 20:38, UK
Ernie Els has not given up hope of playing in the Masters again as he reflected on a disappointing weekend at Augusta National.
Els was happy to make the cut in his 23rd appearance at the opening major of the year, but a woeful third-round 83 - his worst score in the event - saw him slip to the bottom of the remaining 53 players.
That meant he was first out with marker Jeff Knox for the second time in his career, and the South African veteran signed off with a lacklustre 78 to finish on 20 over par, three shots behind 1987 champion Larry Mize.
Els' five-year exemption for winning the 2012 Open is up this year, and although he is aware he may have played his final competitive round at Augusta, he still hopes to tee it up again.
"I had a good day with Jeff, it's the second time that he's been my marker around here," said Els, who posted five straight top-six finishes in the Masters from 2000 onwards, with two runner-up places. "Quite a few people out on the front nine gave me a nice applause here and there. And it was just nice to play.
"I obviously didn't play good again, but it's nice to go around again. And I don't really feel that emotional, if I played better, I think it would have been a different feeling. But it was a good weekend, it was nice playing with these guys and playing the Masters again and playing four rounds, that was the positive.
"The negative is just that my play was atrocious and that's the hard part to take. But 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 and 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 about his hopes of returning to Augusta as a player, Els added: "I think there's still obviously a chance. I'm still trying to win a PGA Tour event to get to 20 wins. And I'm 48 this year, so if I get back, great. Obviously, it's not totally out of the picture, but if it is, it is."
Els also offered words of encouragement for Rory McIlroy who, like Els 20 years ago, has been touted as a future winner of the Masters sooner rather than later.
"Rory's so young still," said Els. "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 here and I'm sure he can win it. And if he gets that first one, he can win a few. I do believe in him, because 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."
