Big course record easy for Els

The sign-writer, on standby in case of a dramatic feat at the Heineken Classic, was pressed into action yesterday as Ernie Els shredded Royal Melbourne to shoot an historic round of 60.

The South African’s name was engraved onto the honours board in the plush clubhouse after he sunk 11 birdies and an eagle to break the record, set a personal best and carve a four-shot first-round lead over New Zealand’s Michael Campbell.

Defending champion Els is attempting to become the first player to seal a hat-trick of Heineken Classic titles and his only disappointment was that he missed out on the magical 59.

Had Els not misjudged a five-foot birdie putt on the seventh, or dropped his only shot on the 15th, he would have been one of only four men to have broken the 60-barrier.

Els sunk five birdies and an eagle on the outward nine and from the moment he reached 12-under-par on the 14th, he and the rest of Royal Melbourne had their minds set on the 59.

The engraver had his implement poised, the crowd held their breath and Els, the ‘Big Easy’, began to feel the pressure.

“After the birdie on the 14th I was trying to shoot 59. I have never done it before,” said Els.

“It was definitely playing on my mind. I came close and who knows when you are going to have a chance like this again so when it comes you go flat out.

“I felt more pressure on those last four holes than I have felt in a long time.”

That he missed out should not detract from the achievement yesterday as only three men have achieved a 59 on the US or European Tour.

Al Geiberger shot 59 at the Memphis Classic in 1977, followed by Chip Beck at the Las Vegas Invitational in 1991 and David Duval at the 1999 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Jason Bohn carded a 58 to win the 2001 Bayer Championship, but that was on the Canadian Tour, and Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama shot a 58 in US Open qualifying in 2000.

Women’s number one Annika Sorenstam became the first player on the LPGA Tour to score a 59 in a tournament at the Moon Valley Country Club, Phoenix in 2001.

Els could not match them, but became only the sixth man on the European Tour to shoot 60 on a par-72 course.

Yesterday, Els had a feeling “there was a score on” after watching Campbell shoot an eight-under par 64 in dry and windless conditions.

He needed just 25 putts and made 17 out of 18 greens in regulation to break the course record by two strokes.

Campbell, himself a two-time winner of the event, set the early pace only weeks after surgery to correct varicose veins.

“After the operation it is nice to come out strong. When you are playing well your mindset is positive about everything. Apparently it was hot out there, but I did not feel it.”

“The leg was a little bit sore, but not too bad. It is a kind of numb feeling on the inside left thigh.

“It was hurting towards the end but nothing serious.”

Campbell, who was outdriving both Greg Norman and Ian Woosnam, sank four consecutive birdies on the inward nine to sit one shot ahead of compatriot Mahal Pearce and Australian pair Wade Ormsby and Craig Carmichael.

Five Australians finished the day on six-under par, including 23-year-old Adam Scott, while rising star Nick Flanagan, the US amateur champion, finished one back on five-under par.

Five Englishmen, including Paul Casey and Nick Faldo, both of whom made their mark on this tournament last year, sat in the clubhouse one shot further back.

“I’m very pleased, it was a good score,” said Faldo, who was runner-up to Els in 2003.

“It is a strategy golf course and you need to do good things. You have to be very cagey, smart and patient and take what you can get.”

Scotland’s Sandy Lyle reached five under at one stage, but slipped back to two under after a double bogey on 14.

Woosnam, meanwhile, endured a miserable morning to finish five over with an error-strewn 77 and may take umbrage with Els’ claim that Royal Melbourne had never played easier.

Els was quick to defend the course amid claims that his record round proved Royal Melbourne was defenceless against new golfing technology without the wind.

“This is a classic golf course,” he said.

“I am not going to shoot 60 again tomorrow, but I’d like to keep plugging away. I’ve got the lead in the tournament now and I’ve got to concentrate on that.”