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Ernie Els predicts
close Open Ernie
Els believes Muirfield's relative shortness could make this year's Open one of
the most competitive in years when the 131st championship begins on Thursday.
The par 71 course measures a comparatively short 7,034 yards and will
be playable with irons off many tees if it remains calm. "I
think this is a lot wider open than the US Open at Bethpage (a par-70 at 7,214
yards)," saids Els. "If
it's dead-calm, 24 under could win here because you don't need a driver.
"There's
a bunch of holes that are difficult into the wind but you've got a lot of very
short par-fours downwind where you have a lot more opportunities for birdies than
you ever had at Bethpage. "At
Bethpage there were almost no birdie holes it seemed like. I think there will
be a lot more players in this one come Sunday." Despite
his comments, however, Els does not believe his form will allow him to challenge
for the title. "I
have to play a lot better," admitted the double US Open champion, who finished
well down the field in last week's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond. "I
felt my game was really on for the first four or five months of the year, I played
really well and won a couple of times (in fact three strokeplay events in a row).
"I actually
won when Tiger Woods was in the field so that counts even more in my book. "Since
the Masters I haven't really gotten back to my best form so it has been difficult
for myself to challenge any kind of a field for quite a few weeks now. "I
don't know if I'm a little tired or what it is. I just can't get it together at
the moment. It's just not quite there. "I
tried to get it together last week and it didn't quite work, but hopefully by
Thursday I'll get something going." Email
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