Golf: Els breezes through on even keel

Golf

ANDY FARRELL

reports from Singapore

In terms of temperament, Ernie Els puts himself somewhere in between the horizontally laid-back Fred Couples and the fiery-bellied Colin Montgomerie. When he is playing well, Els has the easy air of someone who can make anything happen. A birdie-eagle finish at the Johnnie Walker Classic here yesterday gave him his second successive five-under 67 and a one-shot lead over Sweden's Olle Karlsson.

The South African admits to having had a temper as a junior. Occasionally, it can flare up when things are not quite going to plan. He has broken two clubs in his career, one a putter in Japan at the end of last year. "I didn't want to break it, it just broke," he said. In taking a one-shot halfway lead here, Els has not dropped a shot in 36 holes.

Greg Norman, the world No 1, was impressed by the 26-year-old ranked two places below him. "The guy has such an even-keel attitude on the course," the Australian, who partnered Els, said. "I was never as level-headed at 26. Everyone has a weakness, but I don't know what his is."

Norman could only watch as Els, who started at the 10th, hit the shot of the day, and then bettered it. The first was a six-iron to two feet at the short eighth, the next a three-iron from 235 yards at the par-five ninth to the same distance. "I thought it was going in," Norman said. "It is good to watch someone playing that well."

The Shark, having recovered from his chest infection, had to birdie his last hole to make the cut at one under par. "I was a little stiff at the start, but I hit my irons well and the finish made up for missing a few chances," Els said. "When you are playing well, you don't get uptight. Things work for you. If you are off-line, there is a way through the trees. The game seems a bit easier. I have worked at being more patient. You look at Fred Couples, you could not get a more laid-back guy in the world, and then there is Monty..."

Els had four weeks off at home before winning the South African Open in Cape Town last week. "I had a lot of barbecues and quite a few lagers. I'm fresh. I'm thinking well. It is a good feeling to be playing well again. I haven't made a bogey and that is unusual for me," he said.

Ominous talk. Ian Woosnam also wintered well - "none of this no drinking" - and is lying on an ice-pack each night to ease his back problem. A four- under 68 left him among many three behind Els, including Couples.

"I enjoyed the winter and I am enjoying playing again," the Welshman said. "I don't know why, but I have rediscovered some rhythm in my swing."

A two-iron to 10 feet at the par-five 15th gave him only the second eagle of the day at the hole. Karlsson, the joint overnight leader, made three birdies on the inward half to rob Lancashire's Paul Eales of a date with Els on Saturday. "We differ by about 70 yards off the tee," said Eales, 32, comparing his game with that of the leader.

Though he needed two more clubs than the South African at the 194-yard eighth, his result was even better, the ball finishing a foot from the hole. Eales, who eats up to seven snack meals a day, drank half a bottle of water a hole to combat the heat during his five-under-par 67.

JOHNNIE WALKER CLASSIC (Tanah Merah; Singapore) Second-round scores (GB or Irl unless stated): 134 E Els (SA) 67 67. 135 O Karlsson (Swe) 66 69. 136 P Eales 69 67. 137 A Painter (Aus) 67 70; D Clarke 67 70; W Riley (Aus) 70 67; A Coltart 69 68; I Woosnam 69 68; F Couples (US) 68 69. 138 Z Moe (Burma) 68 70; S Ames (Tri) 68 70; H Clark 70 68; I Aoki (Japan)70 68; P Curry 68 70; B Hughes (Aus) 66 72; D McKenzie (Aus) 68 70; R Willis (Aus) 73 65. 139 D Fardon (Aus) 69 70; P McGinley 71 68; Choi Sang-ho (S Kor) 70 69; Park Nam Sin (S Kor) 72 67; D Dunakey (US) 71 68. 140 R Claydon 73 67; J Daly (US) 67 73; J Van de Velde (Fr)69 71; A Hunter 69 71; P Senior (Aus) 69 71; S Torrance 68 72; P Moss (US) 69 71; C Parry (Aus) 72 68. 141 *C Plaphol (Thai) 72 69; T Price (Aus) 69 72; P Gunasagaran (Malay) 71 70; D Bransdon (Aus) 70 71; S Struver (Ger) 71 70; M Harwood (Aus) 71 70; J Payne 73 68. 142 D Cole (Aus) 69 73; Hsieh Chin-sheng (Tai) 69 73; R Green (Aus) 73 69; F Lindgren (Swe) 71 71; A Sherborne 68 74; J Senior (Aus) 71 71; P O'Malley (Aus) 72 70; R Burns 73 69; J O'Keefe (US) 70 72; S Mori (Japan) 74 68; B Langer (Ger) 68 74; C Cevaer (Fr)72 70; J Townsend (US) 68 74; P McWhinney (Aus) 72 70; A Gilligan (Aus) 73 69; Kim Jung Duk (S Kor) 72 70; R Allenby (Aus) 74 68; J Singh (Ind) 69 73; Chua Guan-soon (Sing) 75 67. 143 M Mouland 73 70; G Norman (Aus) 71 72; P Affleck 69 74; S Ginn (Aus) 70 73; L Westwood 73 70; M Litton 68 75; G Nicklaus (US) 71 72; P Fowler (Aus) 71 72; R Boxall 73 70; D Robertson 71 72; M Jonzon (Swe) 71 72; G Orr 71 72; K Tomori (Japan)70 73. Did not qualify (selected): 144 A Bossert (Swit) 71 73; F Nobilo (NZ) 73 71; I Pyman 70 74. 146 P Broadhurst 74 72. 147 R Rafferty 69 78. 150 A Forsbrand (Swe) 77 74. Disqualified: W Smith (Aus). *denotes amateur.