Els upbeat about Sony chances

Ernie Els’ is in confident mood as he targets a third straight Sony Open title.

The South African had 26 birdies and finished fourth at the season-opening Mercedes Championship in Hawaii.

“I’m going for three wins in a row here, which would be pretty special,” he said on his website, www.ernieels.com.

“The good thing is, from the way I played at last week’s Mercedes, I feel confident about my game in general.”

Els was outstanding in the second round at Kapalua when he hit all 18 greens.

“Waialae is a completely different type of challenge to Kapalua,” he said. “There isn’t the same degree of elevation change and the fairways are much tighter.

“There are a few more doglegs, as well, so you can’t just reach for your driver and bomb it. The greens are smaller, too. In fact, if I can hit as many greens in regulation as I did at Kapalua, I’ll be a very happy man!”