Ernie Els

“Check the card before you play. If you have a couple of long par 3s, put an extra hybrid in your bag. You'll be glad you did.”

“I think most amateurs dread playing a 180-plus-yard par 3 even more than a hard par 4. Part of it is psychological: You think you should be getting a breather, distance-wise, and instead, you get hit with a long iron or hybrid shot over trouble.”

“When you're hitting a fairway wood, you've got a lot of real estate to cover to get to your target. Your first instinct is probably to give it a little more power because you're worried about coming up short.”

“Ball position is everything in iron play. If you aren't careful about it, you can create some major problems in your game just by getting an inch or two off.”

“You probably don't hit as many fairway-bunker shots as you do the greenside ones, and that unfamiliarity might make you a bit nervous.”

“When you get to the tee on a really long par 5, I know what you're feeling. You want to let the shaft out on the driver and try to bomb it down there. I get the same feeling. But a big tee shot is not always the best strategy, especially on a long hole.”

“Grip pressure - not mechanical flaws - is the biggest factor when you're nervous. You unconsciously grip it tighter, which keeps you from making a smooth swing with a natural release. Keep your grip pressure light, and you'll be surprised how much your mechanics stabilize.”

“For the average player, most three-putts happen because of a poorly judged first putt from long range.”

“You don't have to be long off the tee, and we know the amazing effect an Open crowd can have if you're on your game and how they can lift you.”

“During a tournament, I'm not thinking about mechanics at all. I'm in scoring mode.”

“Playing from deep grass is a fact of life in professional golf.”

“One of my tendencies is to let the ball drift too far forward in my stance, and it's something I've been working on with David Leadbetter.”

“I'd like to win the Masters and the PGA and complete the career Grand Slam.”