Ernie Els' Six Putts: When Short Putts Feel Impossible

Ernie Els is one of the smoothest golfers who ever lived. They call him the Big Easy. He has won four majors, and he played in Little Rock at the 2026 Simmons Bank Championship. But on the very first hole of the 2016 Masters, a putt of about three feet would not go in. Then the next one wouldn't either.

The moment

Els chipped close on the par-4 1st at Augusta National. A routine par or bogey was right there. His first putt slid past. So did the second, and the third. He walked away, lined up the fourth, and missed again. It took six putts in all. He made a 9, the highest score ever recorded on that hole at the Masters. Even the scoreboard got confused and first showed a 10.

Afterward he didn't hide. "I can't explain it," he said. "I couldn't take the putter back. I was standing there, I've got a 3-footer, I've made thousands of 3-footers and I just couldn't take it back."

He also said something every golfer has felt: "I can go to that putting green now and make 20 straight 3-footers. And then you get on the course and you feel a little different."

He kept playing. He finished all 18 holes and answered every question. That takes courage.

Your first-nine lesson: nerves are normal, so make short putts simple

If a pro with four majors can freeze over three feet, you're allowed to feel shaky on your first green.

• Breathe before you putt. One slow breath out, then go. Our first-tee nerves guide has more calm-down ideas.
• Practice the feeling, not just the stroke. On the practice green, lay your alignment stick down and roll a few short ones along it. Then make each one count, as if it's on the course.
• Keep a simple stroke. Our putting basics guide shows a setup you can trust.
• Agree on tap-ins. In a friendly round, it's fine to agree that very short putts count as made. It keeps the game moving and the pressure low.

A tough green doesn't define your day. The next shot is all that matters.

Related guides and stories

• Putting basics for beginners
• First-tee anxiety is normal — here’s a calm plan
• More “even the greats” stories
• Start here

Sources

• ASAP Sports, Masters Tournament interview transcript, Ernie Els, Apr 7, 2016
• BBC Sport, "Ernie Els takes a nine at first hole of the Masters 2016,"
• The Guardian, "Ernie Els six-putts from two feet in series of horror misses at Masters," Apr 8, 2016
• AP News, "Big debacle for Big Easy: A 6-putt 9 to start the Masters,"
• Simmons Bank Championship 2026 official field list PDF

Facts are taken from the official and news sources above. Players are named with respect; no player photos or video are used on this page.