Ernie Els is a two-time U.S. Open champion and two-time Claret Jug winner, so the U.S. Senior Open, being held this week at Newport Country Club, should be a good fit for him.
Els compared Newport to Royal Troon, home of this year’s British Open. Like Troon, Newport is on the coast, meaning the course is heavily affected by the weather. Gusts of wind come in from the Atlantic and can wreak havoc at times. But that requires players to keep the ball low and hit it onto the greens, just like what golf fans see at the British Open in Scotland every summer.
“The way this course plays is very much links-style and the course is designed that way,” Els said Tuesday.
“This is a golf course where you’re playing the ball on the ground instead of playing the ball in the air like last year or a normal U.S. Open. It’s going to have a different feel this week. The wind is going to be a big factor. The greens are very high and they slope quite a bit, so when the wind blows it’s going to be difficult around the greens.”
“Having a little extra room off the tee is a good thing. As someone who’s played in the wind, who’s used to playing British Open-style golf, you’ve got to hit 4-iron shots that go 20, 30, 40 yards. If you’re good at playing in the wind, you’re probably going to do well this week.”
Of the five senior majors, the U.S. Senior Open is the only one where Els has not recorded a top-10 finish, but he has posted top-20 finishes in his past three tournaments, with his best result being a T-12 at Sentry World Golf Course in Wisconsin last year.
He’s yet to win a senior major, but he’s come close: Earlier this year, Els tied for third at the Regions Tradition, then tied for sixth at the Senior PGA Championship, six strokes behind Richard Bland.
But since then he’s won two PGA Tour Champions events and then won back-to-back tournaments in early June, the Principal Charity Classic and the American Family Insurance Championship.
“I’m playing better golf, I’m hitting the golf ball better and getting more shots at the flag off the short grass,” Els said of his recent form.
“When I won I putted well, and when I didn’t I putted pretty consistently. I’m starting to get a little better. My game is just better overall.”
Given the good momentum he’s having in his game and Els’ love of the course’s layout, it wouldn’t be a surprise if “The Big Easy” Els wins his first senior major title at Newport Country Club this week.
At the very least, he should be in the running to win as long as he can control the golf ball in the wind, but he’s done it before and there’s no reason to think he won’t do it this week.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation Playing Through. Follow For more golf articles, follow us on Twitter Jack Mirko In the same way.
