Els out to shed nearly-man tag

This could well have been a great year for Ernie Els. A really special year.

Three of the four majors – the Masters, the Open and the US PGA – were lost by a single stroke and in the other, the United States Open, he was out in the last group on the last day and became a victim of a course set-up many were to describe as ridiculous.

The titles went instead to Phil Mickelson, Retief Goosen, Todd Hamilton and finally Vijay Singh, who a month ago also ended Tiger Woods’ five-year reign as world number one.

It might have been Els doing it - and it all hit the South African hard for a while.

But after a two-week break to clear his head and re-charge his batteries, Els has returned to action at this week’s American Express world championship.

And going into today’s third round at Mount Juliet in Co Kilkenny he was two ahead of Hamilton – that man again – and Miguel Angel Jimenez.

After a 64 yesterday that was the best round of the day by no fewer than three strokes, he said: “I’ve had time to reflect and I’m fine now.

“I was despondent for a while and there was a negative spin on the whole thing, but from a positive point of view I came close to winning four majors. In three of them I was in there right to the death.

“I’ve got to feel encouraged about what happened, but obviously being human and being an athlete you play to succeed and play to win.”

The World Golf Championships were added to the golfing schedule five years ago - two stroke play events and a match play one each season – and Els has not lifted a single title yet.

In fact, he has had only three top-10 finishes in the 15 he has played. A terrible return from a player of his quality.

Els has not won anything since the end of May, but knows what he is capable of and now he feels like playing again.

“I wanted to get away from it a little bit. Everybody needs a rest and I feel like I want to dedicate myself again to the game,” added Els.

“What Vijay has done the last month or so (five wins in his last six starts) is really incredible. He’s almost in that zone where Tiger was four or five years ago.

“All hats off to Vijay, but I can get there, you know.”

Victory tomorrow would change the world rankings. Singh, absent this week after his Florida home was damaged by Hurricane Jeanne, cannot be caught at the top, but Els can relegate Tiger Woods to third.

Woods, though, might yet win for the third year running – and collect an amazing ninth world championship solo crown in 16 starts.

After more treatment on his injured back, the American, in much less pain yesterday than he was in his miraculous opening 68, set off again today five behind Els on six under.

Jimenez is looking for his fifth victory of the season and Hamilton his third, while Woods also has to try to overtake Justin Leonard on eight under and Lee Westwood, Retief Goosen, Thomas Bjorn and Steve Flesch on seven under.

Jimenez, Westwood and Bjorn are all hoping to become just the second European to win a world championship – Darren Clarke has two to his name – and Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald and David Howell on six under are well placed too.