Els unable to keep pace with even-par round

Ernie Els offset four mistakes with four birdies on the par 5s to shoot even-par 72 in Friday’s second round, leaving him treading water behind leader Jordan Spieth.

“All my birdies on the par 5s kind of brought me back,” Els said. “I’ve got to get it going home, that’s all I can say.

Els started the day tied for second just three shots behind Spieth, but by the time it was over, he was seventh, nine shots behind Spieth’s 36-hole record low score of 14-under 130.

“I watched some golf last night, and Jordan basically played a perfect round of golf,” he said of the Texan’s opening 64. “That’s the way you have to score. You’ve got to score. There’s no perfect way to play this game, but you have to score. So today I didn’t have my scoring cap on; I’ve just got to be closer.”

Els hit his approach over the green on No. 5, short-sided himself on 7, three-putted 10 and missed a short putt on the 11th to account for his four bogeys. But he birdied each of the par 5s, including Nos. 13 and 15, to get back to level par for the day.

“So that’s the four mistakes I made, and I paid for it,” Els said. “But I felt like I played well. I hit the ball well, kept my patience up. But you’re going to do that around here. I didn’t get it up and down when I needed to. But I felt in control, patient. And I feel I’ve got a couple rounds in me when I get it altogether.”

Els hopes his experience in 21 Masters starts plus a pair of low weekend rounds might apply some pressure to the 21-year-old Spieth.

“I don’t want to wish anything bad, but if he takes his foot off the gas and gives you a bit of hope to catch him,” Els said. “But I would love two 67s. … There’s also been real good comebacks. It’s not over. Big weekend ahead, a lot of golf to be played.”

Els, 45, was one of the chasers in 1997 when a 21-year-old Tiger Woods lapped the field by 12 strokes and set the Masters scoring record at 18-under par. Els also suffered a disproportionate number of high finishes behind Woods at his peak.

“Yeah, there’s some scars,” he said of Woods’ 1997 win. “But it’s 18 years away now, so I think I’m over it.”