BETHESDA, Md. — Ernie Els seems to be able to contend for a unique kind of main championship at Congressional.
Again on the course the place he received the U.S. Open in 1997, Els shot a 3-under 69 on Thursday to complete two strokes off the lead after the primary spherical of the Senior PGA Championship. Els is considered one of a trio of South Africans close to the highest, together with Keith Horne and Darren Fichardt.
Cameron Percy of Australia shot 67 to take sole possession of the lead, one stroke forward of Horne. Fichardt and Els have been tied for third, together with Simon Khan and Mario Tiziani.
It is the second straight main for the seniors after Ángel Cabrera‘s victory Monday within the delayed Areas Custom.
“This one feels extra like a serious,” Els mentioned. “Final week they known as it a serious, however it’s only a good massive Champions Tour occasion. However this one has acquired extra of that really feel. It is acquired a golf course with historical past, and it is acquired some status right here.”
Gamers handled moist circumstances on a wet day, however Percy was in one of many final teams to complete, and by then the solar was shining from one route and a rainbow was forming in one other. Percy mentioned rain earlier within the week prevented him from enjoying a full observe spherical.
The 51-year-old Percy additionally harm his again just lately.
“We’re all outdated now, so it is fairly stiff,” he mentioned. “On Sunday it was so moist and I slipped on a rock and made a multitude of myself. I have been within the physio Monday, Tuesday for hour, hour and a half after which yesterday for an additional hour. I am fairly sore proper now.”
Percy began on the again 9 and took the lead due to an eagle on the par-5 sixth and a birdie two holes later.
The 53-year-old Horne has 9 wins on South Africa’s Sunshine Tour, plus a victory final 12 months within the Legends Tour’s Zambia Legends Championship. He holed out a wedge from 109 yards for an eagle on the par-4 eighth.
“I performed a observe spherical on Monday and I used to be very scared to play the golf course,” Horne mentioned. “The greens have been arduous and quick, and to get on the market right this moment and to have them a bit of bit softer and slower, it was an enormous assist.”
Percy credited his enjoying companion, Soren Kjeldsen, for setting a excessive commonplace – he made an eagle and two birdies within the group’s first 4 holes. Kjeldsen, barely eligible for this occasion after turning 50 final weekend, made a double bogey on No. 8 and ended up with a 70.
“He made it look very easy, so I used to be simply attempting to maintain up with him to be trustworthy with you. He began implausible,” Percy mentioned. “Then he missed just a few putts. We have been within the final group. The greens aren’t going to be excellent.”
Defending champ Richard Bland was in a bunch at 2 underneath together with Vijay Singh, who withdrew from the PGA Championship final week attributable to harm. Cabrera shot 72.
