ERNIE ELS is eager to bounce back to form at this week's Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens after suffering a nightmare first-round exit at the Accenture Match play Championship last week.
The South African world number four was crushed 6 and 5 by Jonathan Byrd at Dove Mountain's Gallery Golf Club, the fifth time he has lost in the event's opening round in eight appearances.
Els, who contributed to his premature exit at Dove Mountain by making four bogeys in the first nine holes, is looking forward to his first appearance at the Honda Classic since 1999.
"I think it's a golf course that I can do well on. I feel like I'm striking it quite nicely and I just want to play some solid golf now."
The smooth-swinging South African is hungry to return to the winner's circle on American soil for the first time in four years.
"I'm now settled in for a long stretch of tournaments on the PGA Tour. I'll be playing my way from here all the way into the Masters (April 10th-13th). I really want to get back into the mix over here in the States."
Els heads a strong field at the PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, where six of the world's top 20 will be playing. Also competing are Justin Rose (ranked seventh), Sergio Garcia (13th), US Open champion Angel Cabrera (14th), Luke Donald (16th) and Zach Johnson (19th), the 2007 Masters winner.
The American Mark Wilson defends the title he won 12 months ago in a four-way play-off.
Meanwhile, The US PGA Tour, after complaints from players, altered its eligibility rule for weekend play and made minor modifications to its FedEx Cup points system to create more late-season volatility.
Starting this week in Florida, if more than 78 players qualify to play the final two rounds, a second cut will be made after 54 holes. That will leave the top 70 players, plus ties, for the final round.
Some players said a 36-hole cut rule that went into effect at the start of this season limited earnings opportunities. The PGA Tour's Policy Board yesterday approved the change, which was recommended by the Players Advisory Council earlier this month.
Until the revision, if more than 78 players made the second-round cut, the field was reduced to 70 players, plus ties, beginning with the third round in an effort to speed play over the weekend.
The others received a cheque but didn't play on.
While players voted to approve the rule change at the start of the year, several others, including John Daly at the Sony Open in January, complained when they were sent home early.
In addition, an adjustment was made to how points are reset at the start of the Tour's FedEx Cup play-off events, giving more players a chance to win the season-long competition. Prior to the Barclays Championship, the first of four season-ending playoff tournaments, 500 points will separate first and second place, half of the 1,000-point separation under the previous system. Similar reductions will be made down the list through 144th place.
PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said the change "will result in an even higher level of fan excitement and interest" heading into the playoffs.
At the 2007 Tour Championship, golf's final event, only Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Rory Sabbatini and KJ Choi had a mathematical chance to unseat points leader Tiger Woods, who went on to win the final tournament and inaugural FedEx Cup.
The number of points available in playoff events also was increased by 2,000 per position, allowing players who finish well each week to move up more in the standings. For example, a third-place finish, worth 3,400 points in 2007, is now worth 5,400.
