Top 100 TOUR Players to Watch in 2010: No. 19

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Dec. 20, 2009

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Regular Season Rank	22
Playoff Rank	16
Bonus Money	245,000

Ernie Els might as well be the South African Fred Couples. He has the same kind of seemingly effortless swing and laid-back manner but make no mistake - Els will be doggedly focused on getting back into the winner's circle in 2010. Els says he's has gotten his swing back where he wants it, and the statistics bear him out. He improved by nearly eight percentage points in driving accuracy and almost five in greens in regulation. That said, his putter didn't always cooperate, but when it did, Els was a threat to pick up his 17th PGA TOUR win. In fact, he finished eighth or better in four of his last seven TOUR events, and that encompassed two majors, one World Golf Championships and all four events of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup so the competition was stiff.


On his 40th birthday he is eligible for the World Golf Hall of Fame. No matter how he plays in 2010, there should be something to celebrate.

Ranked as one of the best lag putters on TOUR in 2009. Els left his first putt only two feet, one inch from the hole on average, which ranked second behind John Merrick (two feet).

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