Els in irresistible form

GOLF/World Matchplay Championship: Keith Duggan sees the Big Easy make it look so easy and bring the frown back to Monty's face

They make a classic contrast, Ernie Els and Colin Montgomerie. The Big Easy rolled into Wentworth with his sunny disposition and blew Monty away with an astonishing 12-under morning round that left the Scotsman with the steepest of tasks.

Four down after lunch, Montgomerie vainly played catch-up until the 31st hole, when he hit a three-iron into the woods.

As PG Woodehouse noted, it is never difficult to distinguish between a Scotsman with a grievance and a ray of sunshine. For a while, Monty stood amidst dead leaves examining his lie before emerging into the sunlight to offer his hand to the South African.

For a second, the bottom lip quivered, but then Montgomerie flashed a smile of concession. There was nothing else he could do. Els gladly accepted and cruised through to the semi-finals with a handsome 6 and 5 victory.

"I don't know what it is, he brings out the best in me," observed a contented Els afterwards. "That's always the way it has happened in this competition.

"I wanted to say that to him afterwards, but I didn't see him at the right time. In the PGA he had gotten the better of me and in matchplay, I seemed to be able to get hold of him, so we are pretty much even now."

Els smiled happily when discussing his flawless first 18, which included eagles at the fourth and 17th, and a string of birdies on greens number two, three, nine, 10, 13, 14, 16, and 18.

It wasn't as if Montgomerie had failed to pressurise his opponent; the Scotsman had a morning round of 65 which bettered all of the other second-round competitors; but it still left him facing a four-hole chasm against Els.

"I guess I never hit anything like that before. I think a 63 is my previous best here," acknowledged Els afterwards.

He admitted that he felt relaxed again after a turbulent period for the family with the birth of a third child. "I just felt really good and fresh out there. Everything that happened to us recently is behind us now and I can concentrate on golf and my wife, I guess, can concentrate on, well, three kids now. I just felt good," he explained.

"My putting worked very well, I hit some good iron shots, and all in all I cannot complain. Twelve under par against one of the best players in the world is a great feeling."

Vijay Singh now awaits Els as he seeks his fourth matchplay title. "He beat me in 1997," remembered Els. "It was quite a difficult day but definitely, this is a form match."

Singh also enjoyed a relatively stress-free afternoon against Retief Goosen, after sharing the morning round thanks to a timely eagle on the 18th.

Singh resumed after lunch and reeled off a string of birdies on his way to winning 4 and 3.

"I was down early but I wasn't worried, it's a long way to go with 36 holes. The putt on the 18th in the morning was big for me, it squared the match and I started well in the afternoon. My shoulder is bugging me a small bit but it's nothing to worry about. I'm really looking forward to meeting Ernie tomorrow. We played in two finals already and we shared them."

Singh shook his head at the mention of Els's round of 60. "Lucky I wasn't playing him then."