CHASKA, Minn. – If Ernie Els can win the 84th PGA Championship this weekend at Hazeltine National Golf Club, he’ll have won as many major championships this year as Tiger Woods, an unlikely notion when Woods was chasing the first calendar grand slam in 72 years.
But with Woods shooting an 81 on a rainy, windy Saturday at the British Open, and Els’ ultimate victory coming in a playoff the following day, the smooth-swinging South African has a chance to steal the thunder from what looked to be another year of Woods domination.
“I believe if I can play to the best of my ability, I can really compete,” Els said yesterday following a practice round over the 7,360-yard Hazeltine layout. “If Tiger is on his game, he’s such a competitor, that he’s probably still going to beat people. But if I can play to what I think I can play, who knows?”
Els, winner of four tournaments world-wide this year and three career majors, is among the favorites to contend for the Wanamaker Trophy that goes to the PGA champion. He has the length to manage the third longest course in the tournament’s history, and he’s riding a wave of confidence born from his victory at Muirfield.
“It’s only been three weeks since the British Open,” Els said. “Obviously, my confidence is pretty high at the moment. I’d like to keep it there. I’d like to perform well this week.”
So would the rest of the field that includes 98 of the world’s top 100 players. Truth is, this tournament may mean more to the players than the general public, which may have lost interest now that Woods isn’t gunning for the calendar grand slam.
Els’ goal is to capture a career grand slam. Having won the 1994 and 1997 U.S. Opens and now the 2002 British Open, winning this weekend would leave only the Masters to conquer.
Phil Mickelson is still seeking an elusive first major. A victory by Woods would give him three major titles in one year, duplicating his feat from two years ago.
“I like winning majors,” said Woods, who has won seven of the last 12 majors and eight overall, including the 1999 and 2000 PGA Championships. “I’ve won it twice and I would like to add my name to that list again.”
Els, 32, may have walked away the winner at Muirfield, but the result did little to shatter the invincibility that seems to surround Woods, who won the Buick Open on Sunday for his 33rd career tour victory.
Despite a 28th-place finish at Muirfield, the reality is it wasn’t a human who beat Woods. It was Mother Nature in the form of 30-degree temperatures, biting wind, and a soaking rain. Similar conditions won’t be present at Hazeltine, where the fairways are fast and the greens firm.
“That was some of the most demeaning conditions I’ve ever seen in my life,” Els said of that Saturday at Muirfield. “It was difficult for everybody, obviously for Tiger included. It was just one of those days where the weather just beat the hell out of you.”
It didn’t beat up Els, who shot a 1-over 72, then won a four-man playoff on Sunday.
“My career is turning into a pretty good direction,” Els said. “When you win a major championship, you feel like you can get to the next level and that’s where I want to get to. That would be for me to try and win as many majors as I can. I’m trying to win all four at least once. That’s my ultimate goal.”
Els, Woods and defending PGA champion David Toms will play together for the first two rounds. It’s not unlikely Els and Woods could be in the final group on Sunday.
“I just want to play as well as I can,” Els said. “If [Woods] is there and I’m playing him, good. If not, that’s also good. Even better.”
George Willis’ PGA Picks
* Tiger Woods: At his best, he’s still the best.
* David Toms: Defending champ wants to keep Wanamaker Trophy.
* Padraig Harrington: Three top 10 finishes in three 2002 majors.
* Scott Hoch: Eighth at British, fifth at Bethpage. Always in the hunt.
* Nick Price: Still has the iron game to win.