Ernie Els has won the praise of the golf public after calling a two-shot penalty on himself after admitting he felt ‘uncomfortable’ with his chip-in eagle, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Read: Els enjoys up and down day at BMW PGA Championship
The Big Easy got the crowd at Wentworth roaring with delight when he chipped in for eagle on the par 5 12th, only to impose a penalty on himself.
‘My second shot … I pulled a bit left and hit it into the bank of the bunker,’ the 47-year-old four-time Major winner told reporters after his round.
WATCH:
Ernie Els rolling back the years! #BMWPGA https://t.co/Ej1WP28Muy
— Compleat Golfer (@CompleatGolfer) May 25, 2017
‘I asked my guys (playing partners) if I could check it and they said ‘yeah’. I put it back and hit my chip shot and just felt uncomfortable by the way the ball came out.
‘The ball came out way too good so I felt I probably didn’t quite put it exactly where I should have … so we took a two-shot penalty,’ said Els.
‘I called it on myself. The game of golf, it is what it is. I know deep down the ball wasn’t quite where it should be and, you know, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.’
Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images
