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LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - When the U.S. Open was last held at Congressional in 1997, Ernie Els emerged triumphant by one shot after a nerve-wracking final round of attrition that featured four-way ties for the lead at three different stages.
Els made five successive pressure-packed pars down the stretch to hold off his closest challengers but he believes it was his well executed game plan that ultimately paved the way for his victory.
"It was a mental and physical grind," the South African former world number one told Reuters.
"Myself and Colin (Montgomerie) playing together, two foreigners playing in the final group of a U.S. Open, so it was a real grind but I had a good game plan and I just kept following that game plan."
Els waged an intense struggle for the coveted title with Britain's Montgomerie and Americans Tom Lehman and Jeff Maggert before finally sealing victory with a one-under-par 69.
On the then-longest course to stage a U.S. Open, he claimed the second major title of his career with a winning total of four-under 276.
Asked whether he had felt he was in the 'zone' during that gripping afternoon at Congressional Country Club, Els replied: "Yeah, I did.
"I was following a good strategic game plan on the course and I had a really good mental plan too. I just kept playing. I just felt like I was really in control of everything."
Three years earlier, Els had clinched his first U.S. Open title in a playoff at Oakmont Country Club, widely regarded as one of the toughest layouts in major championship golf.
'VERY FAIR'
Congressional, by comparison, he felt was a very fair test.
"I thought it was very playable in 1997," Els said. "There was a lot of rain before that week so the fairways were soft and the greens were holding so it was fair.
"If you missed a shot, you were really penalised but I thought Congressional was a lot fairer than Oakmont. At Oakmont it can get away from you. It's renowned for its greens and they (tournament organisers) like to play off that."
When Els triumphed at Congressional 14 years ago, the hosting Blue Course was a 7,213-yard, par-70 layout featuring the first par-three finishing hole at a U.S. Open since 1909.
Next week, the tree-lined Blue Course will play to a par-71 over 7,574 yards with the 1997 finishing hole having been reconfigured as the 10th and the 17th from that year switched to become the 18th.
"I've seen the changes," said Els, who returned to Congressional for another look at the course earlier this week. "I've seen the 10th hole that they have changed to a par three and some of the other changes.
"They've made some of the other holes longer again. It will be a great test. I really like it."
Els, who won his third major title at the 2002 British Open, believes the 218-yard 10th will pose plenty of problems for the players when the 111th U.S. Open gets under way with the traditional two-tee start next week.
"That 10th hole could be a really demanding opening hole for a lot of guys," he said. "It's a tough par three anyway and it's about a five or six-iron so it's really tough to start a round like that."
While Els has not been at his best on the PGA Tour this season with a highest finish of joint 15th at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March, he hopes to be inspired by the familiar surrounds.
"Returning there will feel like a (title) defence of sorts, and obviously I am going back there with some good feelings," he said. "I am looking for something positive at Congressional next week."
(Editing by Julian Linden; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Els made five successive pressure-packed pars down the stretch to hold off his closest challengers but he believes it was his well executed game plan that ultimately paved the way for his victory.
"It was a mental and physical grind," the South African former world number one told Reuters.
"Myself and Colin (Montgomerie) playing together, two foreigners playing in the final group of a U.S. Open, so it was a real grind but I had a good game plan and I just kept following that game plan."
Els waged an intense struggle for the coveted title with Britain's Montgomerie and Americans Tom Lehman and Jeff Maggert before finally sealing victory with a one-under-par 69.
On the then-longest course to stage a U.S. Open, he claimed the second major title of his career with a winning total of four-under 276.
Asked whether he had felt he was in the 'zone' during that gripping afternoon at Congressional Country Club, Els replied: "Yeah, I did.
"I was following a good strategic game plan on the course and I had a really good mental plan too. I just kept playing. I just felt like I was really in control of everything."
Three years earlier, Els had clinched his first U.S. Open title in a playoff at Oakmont Country Club, widely regarded as one of the toughest layouts in major championship golf.
'VERY FAIR'
Congressional, by comparison, he felt was a very fair test.
"I thought it was very playable in 1997," Els said. "There was a lot of rain before that week so the fairways were soft and the greens were holding so it was fair.
"If you missed a shot, you were really penalised but I thought Congressional was a lot fairer than Oakmont. At Oakmont it can get away from you. It's renowned for its greens and they (tournament organisers) like to play off that."
When Els triumphed at Congressional 14 years ago, the hosting Blue Course was a 7,213-yard, par-70 layout featuring the first par-three finishing hole at a U.S. Open since 1909.
Next week, the tree-lined Blue Course will play to a par-71 over 7,574 yards with the 1997 finishing hole having been reconfigured as the 10th and the 17th from that year switched to become the 18th.
"I've seen the changes," said Els, who returned to Congressional for another look at the course earlier this week. "I've seen the 10th hole that they have changed to a par three and some of the other changes.
"They've made some of the other holes longer again. It will be a great test. I really like it."
Els, who won his third major title at the 2002 British Open, believes the 218-yard 10th will pose plenty of problems for the players when the 111th U.S. Open gets under way with the traditional two-tee start next week.
"That 10th hole could be a really demanding opening hole for a lot of guys," he said. "It's a tough par three anyway and it's about a five or six-iron so it's really tough to start a round like that."
While Els has not been at his best on the PGA Tour this season with a highest finish of joint 15th at the WGC-Cadillac Championship in March, he hopes to be inspired by the familiar surrounds.
"Returning there will feel like a (title) defence of sorts, and obviously I am going back there with some good feelings," he said. "I am looking for something positive at Congressional next week."
(Editing by Julian Linden; To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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