Ernie Els

“The key is to hit the ball first, then the sand. Even if you catch it a bit thin, you'll still get plenty of run. Hitting it fat is what you want to avoid.”

“Contours on the second half of a long putt have more impact on how the ball rolls because it's going slower. Adjust your speed if that last part is playing uphill or downhill. Don't get fooled by an early slope or break.”

“With shorter clubs, your ball position should be just back of middle, to really promote hitting the ball first on a downward strike.”

“Spin is a tricky thing. When you're trying to avoid it - say, on a tee shot, where sidespin puts you in the trees - it's easy to make it happen.”

“Before you take your address, while you're still reading the putt, imagine the ball tracking on the line you've chosen and falling into the cup. If you don't believe you can make every putt, why bother trying?”

“Make a conscious effort to loosen your hands and let your arms feel soft when you're at address. Take the club back a bit shorter, and feel as if you're cracking a whip on the way down - not tensing up to smash something hard.”

“I never thought I'd be comfortable living outside South Africa, but we love London. Our two kids were born here.”

“Some players like to change clubs around the green to hit high or low shots. I play all of my short-game shots with my 54-degree sand wedge and change my ball position to hit it higher or lower. I think it's easier to learn one club than four.”

“The good kind of spin - backspin - comes from hitting the ball cleanly, then making a divot after impact.”

“Something I've really enjoyed learning more about is course design.”

“When I stay athletic with good posture and get the club away in a good position, I get through it better.”

“Throughout my career, I've been sponsored by several different equipment companies - Lynx, Titleist, Callaway.”

“Unless it's a dead-straight short putt, you should focus on a spot somewhere along the line you want to roll the ball on.”

“Your longest drives will come when you feel you're swinging at 75 percent.”

“When I'm swinging the club at my best, it's because I'm not thinking about mechanics at all. I feel like my body is loose. My arms are soft in front of me when I'm setting up, and my chest and shoulders feel as if they can move and turn easily.”

“Swinging harder with a longer club almost always leads to bad shots.”

“From a good lie in the middle of a fairway bunker, I'll make the same swing as I do from an average fairway lie. I'll dig my feet in slightly and keep my lower body stable so I won't slip, but I don't change my club selection or setup. It's only when the ball is sitting down in the sand that I'll make some modifications.”

“If you can hit your 3- and 5-woods with confidence from the fairway, par 5s become birdie opportunities, and 420-yard par 4s are a lot less scary.”

“For the most part, when you play a full shot from the primary rough at your course, you're gauging how close to a standard shot you can hit based on your lie in the grass.”

“Right before I start the putter back, I think about making solid contact. This brings your attention to the back of the ball and helps keep your head still at impact, which is a must. Many amateurs take a peek down the line too soon, and that can cause all sorts of mis-hits.”