NOT only does Ernie Els believe he has a great chance of winning the US$925,000 Johnnie Walker Classic. But so, too, does world number one Greg Norman . . . and defending champion Fred Couples. There was no shortage of evidence to back up those opinions yesterday as the towering South African staged a grandstand finish to his second round at the Tanah Merah Country Club.
Ending his stroll around the immaculately manicured 7,001-yard Garden Course with a birdie and an eagle, 26-year-old Els recorded his second successive, bogey-free five-under-par 67 to assume pole position in the opening event of the 1996 European PGA Tour. With a total of 134, he heads the field by one from Swede Olle Karlsson, by two from Englishman Paul Eales and by three from a group of six players including Ryder Cup foes Couples and Ian Woosnam.
However, from the self-confidence exuded by Els and the glowing tributes that poured in for the 1994 US Open champion, already many are assuming that the tournament is as good as over. Els, still on a high following his triumph in last week's South African Open, was first into the media centre.
The first topic of discussion was his stunning finale, how he turned what seemed likely to be categorised as a good round into an excellent one. Having set out from the 10th, Els was two-under through 16. At the 194-yard par-three eighth, his penultimate hole of the day, his six-iron tee-shot across water stopped two feet from the flag.
The birdie putt was a formality. The best, though, was still to come. Following a huge drive at the 558-yard par-five ninth, Els struck a majestic three-iron from more than 220 yards which pitched on the front of the green and appeared headed for the hole.
His ball stopped 18 inches short; he had no trouble rolling home the putt for an eagle three. Judging from the reaction of his pursuers to the ominous Els performance, Norman, Couples, John Daly, who dropped off the pace with a 73, and Co. expect to have their patience tested to the full over the weekend.