Els flying high with Augusta Mastersclass in his sights
An astonishing Qatar Masters victory seven days after a thrilling Dubai Desert Classic win has put Els in the perfect frame of mind for the final countdown to the Masters at Augusta in three weeks.
In Dubai, the South African made an 18-foot eagle putt on the final green to beat Miguel Angel Jimenez and Stephen Dodd by one.
On Sunday he came from six strokes behind with 15 holes to play to beat Sweden's Henrik Stenson by one, two-putting the par-five 18th for the last of eight birdies.
It gave him the lowest round of the tournament a seven-under-par 65 for a 12-under total of 276. And this a day after he thought it "almost impossible" to go low on a Doha Golf Club course made all the more difficult by a stiff wind.
"This is a great win as well," said Els after achieving the target he set himself when he teed off joint 10th.
"Normally when you aim at a low score you don't do it, but here I did and with two wins under my belt now I can't wait to get to America."
Els plays this week's Bay Hill Invitational, next week's Players' Championship and then has a week off before the big one.
Having been pipped by Phil Mickelson's last-hole birdie last April, the Masters is the title the former Open and US Open champion craves more than any other.
"I really feel good," he added. "But you can't get cocky.
"You have just got to shoot the numbers."
With Mickelson and Tiger Woods both having won twice already this year, as well and Vijay Singh once, golf appears to have a 'Big Four' heading into the first major of the season.
"Maybe we have separated ourselves a little bit and our record speaks for itself, but you can't forget Retief Goosen and you have to watch out for other guys," Els commented.
Els, now back at the top of the European Order of Merit he has won for the last two seasons, had his sports psychologist, Jos Vanstiphout, again shaking his head in amazement at his latest success.
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