Els a Major player again

By Dave Tindall Last updated: 15th March 2010

Backing Ernie Els to win the Masters has become a bit of an obsession of mind since I started betting on golf in 1994.

That was the year 'The Big Easy' took victory in the US Open, aged just 24, and ever since watching him win at Oakmont I was convinced he would win multiple Green Jackets.

Sixteen years on and Ernie's record at Augusta reads: played 16, won 0.

I've spent plenty of money chasing what seemed logical - after all, Ernie's power hitting and wonderful short game appear the perfect fit for the Masters - and now the itch needs scratching again.

Els' victory at Doral on Sunday was one of the most impressive of his career. Time and time again, even in his prime, he's let his mind wander when in front, but there was none of it this time.

Instead, Els played like a dream, holed some clutch putts and sealed the deal with a superb final round 64.

It was four shots too good for compatriot Charl Schwartzel but even more impressively he was seven strokes in front of the third place finishers in this world-class field.

In short, it was a rout.

Els is in a good place right now. His putting - once a big strength but an Achilles heel for too long - looks back on track again while in May 2009, Ernie helped establish the Els for Autism Foundation.

It's hard to imagine the huge impact it had on his life after his son was diagnosed with autism and it was Ben's condition that was the main driving force behind the family's decision to relocate from Wentworth to West Palm Beach in Florida.

"Years from now people may remember me as a golfer and a Major champion. But I'd like also to be remembered as somebody who took the issue of Autism and did something with it," says Els.

That perspective plus the benefits on his golf game of living in Florida plus his god-given talent means Els can achieve plenty in his 40s.

And why not a first Masters title?

Currently he is 20/1 in the betting 'without' Tiger Woods and having gone off at single figure prices on several occasions that definitely takes the eye.

There is one other big reason for backing him in the Tigerless market and it comes in the form of this eye-popping stat: Els hasn't won a strokeplay event with Tiger in the field since 2004!

It may be the case, like others have hinted, that Els will not hold Tiger in awe now that Woods has proven his failings off the course.

However, Tiger the man and Tiger the golfer are two very different beasts. Until Els beats him, Woods will likely remain his nemesis.

In theory, it's the perfect time to take on Woods as the world number one is likely to be seriously underprepared and, whisper it, Tiger is not exactly invincible at Augusta anyway (just one win in last seven tries).

But if you can take Tiger out of the equation, it's worth doing.

Even if Woods doesn't win, he will almost certainly clog up one of the each-way payout places so backing without Woods makes plenty of sense.

With Phil Mickelson still in second gear, Padraig Harrington still tinkering and many of the other leading fancies stll needing to prove they can do it at the highest level, this is Ernie's big chance.

It's 2002 since his last Major win and that is too long for a player of his class.

In my mind Els has turned a big corner.

Backing him at 20/1 for Augusta with Tiger not in the mix could prove one of the bets of the season.

And why stop there.

Ernie knows St Andrews like the back of his hand and was tied second to Tiger at the Old Course in the 2000 Open - one of 12 top 10s he's had in the event.

The problem with backing ante-post in the Open these days is that in the run-up to the event many bookies extend their each-way terms to six or even seven places.

Therefore, forget the each-way element and have a couple of win only bets on Els - at 25/1 outright and at 18/1 without Tiger.

Tips:

2pts e.w. Ernie Els to win US Masters 'without Woods' at 20/1 (General 1/4 1,2,3,4,5). Turned a corner with win at Doral but odds still attractive at a course where he's gone close many times.

2pts Ernie Els to win The Open at 25/1 (Hills). Loves St Andrews and won't be this price nearer the off.

2pts Ernie Els to win The Open 'without Woods' at 18/1 (Blue Square). Ernie always goes off at less than this price WITH Woods so looks good business.