We all experience the inevitable aging process. Even in the Big Easy.
Ernie Els is 53 years old and has recently changed shafts. He admitted this after shooting a 66 in the second round at Greystone G&CC, Birmingham, Alabama on Friday.
Els stated, “I have a sort of new set, my clubs are new shafts, and I am getting used to them. But it feels good.” “I have been playing golf a lot lately, so I am aware of where my game stands. I want to do my best, and I am in contention. That is all I can ask.
Els didn’t need much of a push, as he has posted five top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour Champions in seven starts this year. This includes a victory at the Hoag classic in March. Els is one shot ahead of Paul Broadhurst after the first two rounds. He also has a two-shot advantage over Stephen Ames and Steve Stricker.
The lighter shafts may help him win his first major championship on the PGA Tour Champions. He has won three times on the senior circuit but is yet to win a major.
He said, “I have been thinking about this for a long time, but two weeks ago, I began working on it, and now, everything is ready, all clubs are changed.” “It’s just a lighter shaft. I was playing 140-range clubs and went down to a lighter shaft because I’m older.”
BirdieBogey
Birdie@TheBig_Easy compensates for the bogey at the last hole with this slick putting @RegionsTrad. pic.twitter.com/q9wnu2R5oMPGA TOUR Champions May 12, 2023
Els is aware that the competition in the final two games will be fierce. Els played well in his two previous starts at this event, but he saw Stricker take the field each time.
Els wants to keep things simple this time.
“I managed to get around the course very well.” “I hit some shorter clubs to ensure I was in the fairway. The greens were putting beautifully, and I made a few putts. It was a good day to stay in,” he said. “I thought guys would shoot low today due to the rain that we had yesterday so I wanted it to be somewhere in the 60s, and we got there.”
By: Tim Schmitt
Title: An aging Ernie Els went to lighter shafts — and now he's got the 36-hole lead at a PGA Tour Champions major
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/05/13/ernie-els-lighter-shaft-pga-tour-champions-major/
Published Date: Sat, 13 May 2023 16:11:14 +0000
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