Ernie Els will claim more Majors now he can putt again, according to the sports scientist who helped him win The Open.
The Big Easy admitted he felt like an "absolute fool" on the greens earlier this season and TV commentator David Feherty joked he looked like he was "putting with a live rattlesnake".
But since hiring Dr Sherylle Calder - his fellow South African who has worked with the England and Springbok rugby teams - Els has refound his old touch.
And Calder said the 42-year-old is not finished with his fourth Major.
"He was absolutely terrible when we started working together in January," she said. "The way his hands moved, the way he hit the ball - the stroke wasn't fluid.
"We basically started from scratch. Every credit has to go to a guy who has reached the top of the game to do that.
"We're nowhere near where we want to be - we still have a way to go - so this is a big bonus. I'm delighted for him.
"There's always room for improvement and the aim is to win Majors as we get better at what we do."
Els, who last won a Major at the 2002 Open, explained: "Basically it is eye gym. You go to the gym for your body and you do your curls or your cardio or whatever to get your body in shape.
"And it is the same with your eyes. You get your eyes in shape. You can get a bit lazy.
"It's reaction stuff. There will be rugby balls, cricket balls and soccer balls coming up on screen. There's a little up and down arrow so as this happens, you have to react on screen.
"And then there's a number that appears for a split second and you've got to remember the number and type it in.
"Last year I thought I had no chance of winning again. Last year was a pretty big hole.
"But since the start of the year and especially the last month or two, I started seeing some better signs and stared believing in that.
"I had no confidence in my putting. So to win the Open after all that is quite satisfying."
The Big Easy admitted he felt like an "absolute fool" on the greens earlier this season and TV commentator David Feherty joked he looked like he was "putting with a live rattlesnake".
But since hiring Dr Sherylle Calder - his fellow South African who has worked with the England and Springbok rugby teams - Els has refound his old touch.
And Calder said the 42-year-old is not finished with his fourth Major.
"He was absolutely terrible when we started working together in January," she said. "The way his hands moved, the way he hit the ball - the stroke wasn't fluid.
"We basically started from scratch. Every credit has to go to a guy who has reached the top of the game to do that.
"We're nowhere near where we want to be - we still have a way to go - so this is a big bonus. I'm delighted for him.
"There's always room for improvement and the aim is to win Majors as we get better at what we do."
Els, who last won a Major at the 2002 Open, explained: "Basically it is eye gym. You go to the gym for your body and you do your curls or your cardio or whatever to get your body in shape.
"And it is the same with your eyes. You get your eyes in shape. You can get a bit lazy.
"It's reaction stuff. There will be rugby balls, cricket balls and soccer balls coming up on screen. There's a little up and down arrow so as this happens, you have to react on screen.
"And then there's a number that appears for a split second and you've got to remember the number and type it in.
"Last year I thought I had no chance of winning again. Last year was a pretty big hole.
"But since the start of the year and especially the last month or two, I started seeing some better signs and stared believing in that.
"I had no confidence in my putting. So to win the Open after all that is quite satisfying."
没有评论:
发表评论