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Ernie Els seeking Match Play improvement

World number four Ernie Els aims to improve upon a mediocre record at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship when he competes in the $7.5 million tournament for the first time in three years this week.

The 36-year-old South African is at a loss to explain his lack of success in the opening World Golf Championships event of the season, especially in view of his outstanding performances in the World Match Play at Wentworth, England.

"If I'm being honest, this is one event on the PGA Tour where my record really isn't good," said Els who has yet to reach the final since the elite 64-man competition was launched in 1999.

"It's a tough thing to explain. Obviously I've had a great time at Wentworth in the World Match Play, winning that event six times over the years," he told his official website on Monday.

Els said the 18-hole format used in every match in Carlsbad, California except the 36-hole final made it essential to get off to a good start.

"The 36-hole matches we play at Wentworth are a completely different ballgame to what we have here this week at La Costa Resort and Spa," he said. "This is more like a sprint compared to an 800 metres race.

"If you make a bad start you haven't got much time to get back into the game. Things can be over in a hurry if you're not careful."

Els has recently swapped places in the world rankings with fifth-placed Phil Mickelson, meaning the South African earns the status of top seed in one of the four 16-man sections of the WGC tournament.

"That means I don't get to play Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Retief Goosen until at least the semi-finals although let's not get too far ahead of ourselves," said Els.

"I've got to make it that far yet and I haven't managed that since 2001 in Australia where I lost in the semis."

Els shot a closing four-under-par 67 to finish joint 23rd at the Nissan Open and he was particularly pleased with his putting at Pacific Palisades.

"I definitely found something on the greens at the Riviera Country Club," he said. "On Sunday, that's probably the best I've putted all season.

"I need to be able to find that little secret again on the greens here at La Costa and if I do that there's no reason why I can't have a good run this week."

Els will know his opponent for Wednesday's first round when the revised draw is announced later on Monday.

February 21, 2006