Ernie Els looking for a confidence booster in Honda Classic at PGA National

From WorldGolf.com News Services

Despite being the fourth-ranked player in the world, Ernie Els enters Thursday's first round of the Honda Classic looking to build his confidence.

So far this year, Els has seen flashes of good play. However, he's also suffered a final-round collapse in the Dubai Desert Classic — won by Tiger Woods — and last week lost 6-and-5 to Jonathan Byrd in the first round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Arizona.

Els, who is making his first appearance in the Honda Classic since 1999, sounds determined to use the Florida Swing to help him get back into the swing of things, starting in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

"I'm really looking forward to playing a strong four weeks straight here in Florida," Els told reporters. "I would say my confidence is probably around a seven at the moment. I'd like to get it up to a nine by the end of the Florida swing."

Els, a three-time major champion with nearly $45 million in career earnings, said he's been focusing most of his energy recently on improving his technique.

"I feel more comfortable with it, so basically I'm finding a swing that can hold up under pressure," Els said. "I need a win. I need to at least have two or three events really up there, and really feeling the heat and knowing that you can pull off the shots under pressure."

Els said the overall level of play on the PGA Tour has made it easier and easier for players to lose their confidence. He added that it's more difficult to win tournaments than it was 10 years ago.

"The level of play is much better," Els said. "There's a bigger group of really good players, and if you haven't won, it's quite a challenge.

"That's kind of where I find myself right now. It's not like I'm playing terrible golf, but the results are not quite there."

With Woods, the World No. 1, off to a stellar start this season, Els admitted that his three-year plan to become the world's top-ranked player is an uphill battle.

"Getting to No. 1, it would be great, but we're living in the Tiger era right now," Els said. "It seems like he's probably doing what he did in 2000 right now, so I just want to do the best I can."

Mark Wilson returns to PGA National's par-70 Champion Course to defend his title. Last year, he won his first PGA Tour title at the event, beating Jose Coceres with a birdie on the third playoff hole to win a four-man playoff that also included Boo Weekley and Camilo Villegas.

Wilson has continued his strong play this year, posting a pair of top-11 finishes in the FBR Open (tied for ninth) and the Northern Trust Open (tied for 11th). The Wisconsin native has made five of six cuts this year.

"My game feels pretty good so far this year," said Wilson, who won last year's event despite assessing himself a two-stroke penalty when his caddie gave his playing partner advice. "It's the best start I've had on the West Coast."

Honda Classic

SCHEDULE: Thursday-Sunday
SITE: Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
COURSE: PGA National Resort and Spa, Champion Course (7,158 yards, par 70).
PURSE: $5.5 million (winner's share: $990,000)
FEDEX CUP POINTS: 25,000 (winner's share: 4,500)
TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday, 4-6 p.m., 9:30-11:30 p.m. EST) and NBC (Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m. EST).

February 29, 2008