Earnest Ernie

By THOMAS BONK

Feb. 17, 1999 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Ernie Els lives in Fancourt, South Africa. He also lives in Orlando, Fla. This means that Els is qualified to bring us today’s geography lesson, otherwise known as How-to-Get-Here-From-There.

To begin with, he played the Heineken Classic in Perth, Australia, three weeks ago, which is a really nice tournament except when you have to get home from there.

Els flew from Perth to Singapore, Singapore to London and London to Orlando. Total air time: 23 hours. Total distance: 13,513 miles.

“Longest flight I’ve taken in my life,” Els said.

Els took the last two weeks off, probably to allow each of his senses to catch up with the rest of his body. So it is a rested Els, a two-time U.S. Open champion, who will show up at Riviera Country Club for the Nissan Open and make his PGA Tour debut for the year.

But he’s a different guy from the one who last year won his sixth tour event in five years. Gone are the back spasms that bothered him a year ago. Gone is his bachelorhood after marrying his longtime girlfriend. Gone is the No. 1 ranking he held briefly on two occasions last year.

And since Els last played on the PGA Tour, gone (or at least far ahead of him) are Tiger Woods and David Duval, who have blazed a trail up there in the distance, dropping dollar bills on the way so everyone else can follow.

Of course, it’s not as if Els feels left out or anything.

“I would love to get into that group again,” Els said. “David and Tiger, they’re just riding the wave. Tiger is always going to be the guy leading the way. He’s the guy everybody looks up to at the moment. He’s just playing a different game.

“David, he’s playing the best golf of anyone on the planet right now.

“If I were a spectator, I’d be watching Tiger and David. You just try and stay up with these guys.”

Uh, sure, Ernie. Even though he is coming off a back problem, even though he hasn’t played a PGA Tour event since the Canadian Open last September and even though Woods, 23, and Duval, 27--plus 26-year-old Justin Leonard--have taken the lead in the headline race, it probably would not be wise to underestimate Els.

The 29-year-old also has 21 international titles, made $4.5 million on the PGA Tour although he has played as many as 19 events only once and he’s not feeling very old.

“No, no, no . . . well, maybe,” Els said. “It does feel like I’ve been around for a while. When you hit 30, you start going to the veterans [division].

“But I’ve got two majors, they’ve got one.”

Els is correct about that. He leads in the hardware derby by virtue of his U.S. Open victories in 1994 and 1997. Woods has the 1997 Masters, Leonard has the 1997 British Open and Duval has a near-miss at last year’s Masters.

Meanwhile, Els has a wish that he could have played more than 15 tournaments last year. He managed to bag his sixth PGA Tour event when he won by four shots at Bay Hill and he was playing well until his back acted up.

Els finished 11th at the Players Championship, 16th at the Masters, 10th at the MCI Classic and seventh at the Memorial. But two weeks later, his back gave out. Els withdrew during the first round of the Buick Classic in June and he played in only six tournaments the rest of the year.

He still finished with $763,783, and that was good enough for No. 36 on the money list. For the record, Els says his back is fine.

“It’s nice and loose. I’m feeling really good about it.”

Els expects to play as many as 20 PGA Tour events and 11 or 12 in Europe. As far as what’s gone on so far on the PGA Tour, he probably expects to catch up in a hurry. Els said he was amazed by Duval’s 59 at the Bob Hope and just as impressed by Woods’ weekend rounds of 62-65 at the Buick Invitational.

He said he’s been away too long.

“Maybe it’s the money, maybe it’s the equipment, maybe it’s the great courses, but something’s going on,” Els said. “It’s sort of scary for the other guys, good for the guys who are doing it.”

Els said he wants to be one of the guys doing it, and as soon as possible. There is something he promises not to do to catch up, though. He’s not going to try to hit the ball like Woods.

“I’d put my back out for good,” Els said.

Nissan Open

* When: Thursday through Sunday

* Where: Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades

* Defending champion: Billy Mayfair

* Purse: $2.8 million ($504,000 to winner)

PRO-AM

* Today: 6:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m.

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Ernie Els at a Glance

The line on Ernie Els, who will play in the Nissan Open, his first PGA tournament of the season:

ELS’ 1998 NUMBERS