Ernie Els refused to back off from the challenge thrown down by Tiger Woods as he matched the World Number One’s course record 65 to lie just one stroke adrift going into the weekend of The 135th Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
The two giants of the game will now go head-to-head in what promises to be a fascinating duel over the links at Hoylake, back on the Open rota for the first time in 39 years.
Woods threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the field with a spellbinding 65 earlier in the day, equalling the course record set by fellow US Ryder Cup player Chris DiMarco. Els was about just about to start his second round as Woods posted the target of 12 under par 132, but the South African was not deterred as he gave chase and set about reeling in the defending champion.
Birdies on the third, where he ran a delightful seven iron to within a foot of the hole, fifth and sixth holes got the momentum going. Out in 32, Els made another birdie on the tenth after getting up and down from the right bunker.
The 14th was proving a pivotal hole with Woods holing a four iron second shot earlier in the day to pull clear of the field and while Els could not quite match that feat, he nevertheless made an impressive birdie three.
Two more shots were picked up on the two par fives coming in, on the 16th and 18th, and Els had closed the gap to one.
Almost a year ago Els suffered a knee injury while sailing and it is only in the last month he has started to finally put that behind him. Now he feels ready to stand up to the plate.
“It’s been pretty tough,” admitted Els, Champion in 2002 at Muirfield and runner-up in 2004. “It’s been almost a year and I have had a rough time with the game and injuries. But I have done a lot of hard work physically and on my golf game. I’m ready to play now and I’m in a really nice position now, so I’m looking forward to the weekend.
“I’m just happy to be in this position. When I started getting on a roll I didn’t want to back down. I’ve been through too much to back off right now.”
With Els aware of Woods’s target he knew what was needed on another glorious day on the Wirral peninsula in England’s North West.
“I saw the score and obviously he’s a great player, but if he’s 12 under, there’s some birdies to be made out there. I felt I had to get my share of them. I didn’t think I would shoot 65 but I needed something in the 60s.”
The undoubted highlight of Woods's round was an eagle two at the 14th as he launched a four iron approach shot 201 yards over the corner of the dog-leg and reacted with amazement after the ball had bounced five times before striking the bottom of the flagstick and dropping into the cup.
When he reached the green, he picked the ball out of the hole and lifted it high above his head to the resounding cheers of the crowd.
He followed that with a birdie on the 16th, his sixth of the round, on the way to equalling the course record of 65 set 40 minutes earlier by compatriot DiMarco.
"I made a few bombs and obviously 14 helped a lot," said Woods.
"It's a hole where you're just trying to make four and get out of there and to make two was just a bonus.
"Trust me I was just trying to get the ball on the hole and take my four."
Asked if he will change his measured approach over the weekend, Woods added: "I just play the course for what it gives me.
"The way I play is what the course allows me to. We will see what tomorrow's wind does."
DiMarco enjoyed a return to form, moving into third place on nine under par 135 after firing a matching 65. South Africa’s Retief Goosen moved into a challenging position after a six under par 66 lifted him to eight under par and four off the lead with Australia's Adam Scott (69), Miguel Angel Jiménez of Spain (70) and Finland’s Mikko Ilonen a shot further back on seven under par 137.
