Els eases further ahead in Melbourne

Ernie Els was in the record books again today after stretching his lead at the Heineken Classic to seven shots with a bogey-free six-under-par round of 66.

Els opened his quest for a hat-trick of Heineken Classic titles by smashing the Royal Melbourne course record yesterday with an opening round of 60 to hold a four-shot lead over Michael Campbell.

With the New Zealander teeing off later in the day, Els worked on building a cushion and he did not drop a shot on his way to 18 under par, a seven-shot clubhouse lead over Australian Richard Green and a new record.

No player on the European Tour has ever shot 18 under for the opening two rounds of a tournament and in doing so Els broke the previous record – last achieved by John Daly in 2001 – by one stroke.

“I tried to get yesterday’s round out of my mind as soon as possible,” he said.

“It is hard to do but starting on the 10th hole and birdying my first hole settled me down again.

“I played a very good front nine and felt pretty good about my round. Then I had a nice finish to my back nine, birdying my last three holes.

“The only difference was that I probably did not hit it as close to the hole as I did yesterday. The flags were a little more difficult today, some of them were really tucked away and almost forced you to play away from some of the flags. The course showed its teeth a bit.”

Twelve months ago, Els set a new European Tour record with his victory total of 29 under par at the Johnnie Walker Classic at Perth’s Lake Karrinyup.

Els brushed aside talk he might top that, just as he warned last night that a repeat of his 60 was unlikely because it “normally goes the other way“.

That may be, but Els did not miss a green all day and birdied each of the three par-fives and it could have been even better had eagle putts on the second and ninth not missed the cup by inches.

He still closed out the round with three consecutive birdies and with the wind picking up slightly his lead would appear solid.

Green sunk five birdies in his opening 11 holes to reach 11 under par but enjoyed a mixed run home, picking up two birdies and two bogeys to finish seven shots back.

Fellow Australian Adam Scott, who was partnering Els, followed his 66 from yesterday with a 68 to sit in third place on 10 under while Peter O’Malley and Gareth Paddison were in the clubhouse a shot further back.

Scott also partnered Els for two rounds at Lake Karrinyup but cannot remember watching anyone play finer golf than Els this week.

“It is absolutely inspirational. I saw it last year at Karrinyup. I said that was the best golf I had ever seen, until yesterday,” said Scott, who won on both the European and US tours last year.

“I don’t see anyone catching him at the moment.”

Peter Fowler was the only man on course looking like reducing Els’ lead as he drew level with Scott on 10 under par.