After period of turmoil, Els feels like future is bright

After recuperating from knee surgery and switching to Callaway equipment, Ernie Els comes into the Masters Tournament with a new attitude about his game, which he says is rounding nicely into form at just the right time.

By Dave Shedloski, PGATOUR.com Senior Correspondent

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Ernie Els has had a standing tee time with South African Gary Player, the three-time Masters champion, nearly every Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock since he first qualified for the Masters Tournament in 1994.

"I've heard his stories once, twice, three, four five times," Els said with a grin. "But they still keep getting better, let me tell you."

Maybe one story that sticks out more than any other is the one about how Player had to rebound from a disappointing loss to Arnold Palmer in the 1962 Masters. "He kept talking about how Arnold beat him one year when on 16 Arnold missed the green right and Gary was in there close and Arnold chipped in and Gary missed the putt and subsequently, he didn't win the Masters," Els said.

Palmer prevailed in a playoff that year over Player and Dow Finsterwald.

Els has had to absorb his own bouts of disappointment in recent majors, including a tough loss to Phil Mickelson in the 2004 Masters when Mickelson birdied five of the last seven holes to thwart a valiant effort by Els, who came up a stroke shy despite a final-round 67.

That marked his fifth straight finish of sixth or better. The last two years he's been out of contention.

Perhaps it would be instructive for Els to know that Player, playing in a record-tying 50th Masters this week, won two more green jackets, in 1974 and '78.

Could Els see himself playing in 50?

"I would love to," he said. "Believe me, I'd love to. But I need to win one to be able to play 50 Masters -- and then stay alive."

First things first. Els comes into the 73rd Masters Tournament with new Callaway equipment and a new attitude about his game. He wouldn't say he is confident, but he likes the way his game is rounding into form as he prepares for his 10:34 a.m. tee time Thursday with reigning U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy and 1992 Masters champ Fred Couples.

"I don't know about the confidence thing, but I'm hitting the ball really nice," Els, 37, said Tuesday afternoon. "I've done my work. I've just got to basically get the job done."

A three-time major championship winner, Els said he is completely healed from his 2005 boating accident that resulted in a knee injury that required surgery. The bad habits that resulted from his comeback have been exorcised, too. "I have no pain in it. I don't even think about it," he said. "I think I'm finally normal again."

Player gave him a boost of sorts. As they walked up the 17th fairway, the legend, said Els, told him, "This is the best I've ever seen you play; this should be your best chance ever."

"Nice words from him, " Els shared.

"I feel kind of excited, not only using new equipment, but with my game in general," he added. "I've had some good tournaments here, some good, close finishes, but I'd love to get my arms into a green jacket."

And if he doesn't?

"It would be a bit of a downer," he admitted. "I've just got to stay the course and keep grinding."

He won't have to look long to seek inspiration for that. What better role model than Gary Player?