By Andrew Both
Ernie Els held his head high in the second round at the US Masters after being embarrassed in front of the world when he six-putted the first green on day one.
The former world number one and four-time major champion could not help but notice his peers looking at him when he entered the practice range to warm up in the morning.
"After what I did yesterday, you feel quite embarrassed ... it was a very weird, surreal feeling this morning," said Els, who had struggled to an opening round of eight-over 80.
"I felt very bad when I got to the course ... I walked on to the range and even the players and caddies, they kind of just looked at me as if I don't have pants on or something ... not a nice feeling.
"But they've got a good reason to look at me funny for what happened yesterday."
Things did not augur well for Els when he missed an easy shot at the very same opening hole for a double bogey, but he steadied the ship to shoot a one-over 73, respectable under the circumstances at windy Augusta National.
"I was almost back to my normal self," Els said after missing the cut at nine-over 153.
"Working on something new (on Thursday) backfired on me, so I went back to the things I've been working on the first couple of months of the year. I've got to address whatever the issue is and see if I can make it better."
Reuters