Four-time major winner looks ahead to Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, live on Sky Sports from July 20
Friday 7 July 2017 20:01, UK
"For a big man, he hits it very short!"
That's the assessment of Kevin Pietersen's golf from four-time major winner Ernie Els as he made his way into the Sky Cricket commentary box on day two of the first Test between England and South Africa at Lord's.
Els - who will be looking to win The Open Championship for a third time when he tees off at Royal Birkdale on July 20, live on Sky Sports - watched day one at HQ with good friend and former England batsman Pietersen.
However - the 47-year-old, who scooped his Open titles at Muirfield in 2002 and Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2012 - did not pull any punches when analysing KP's ability to boom the ball long!
"He's not a bad player," added Els, who also won the US Open in 1994 and 1997. "I think he shoots in the eighties. He's very competitive."
Pietersen is back on these shores preparing for another NatWest T20 Blast stint with Surrey - the 36-year-old's first match of the summer will come against Essex at The Oval on July 19.
Els will be back in the hunt for the Claret Jug the following day: "I can't wait to get to Birkdale.
"We played there in 2008 and Padraig Harrington won. I remember the weather was atrocious and over-par won. That's how difficult it was.
"We are having a great summer so we will see what the weather is like. How we play is so dependent on weather."
I don't see many cricketers drawing the golf ball! I've played with Ian Botham, Allan Lamb, all these guys and the cover drive is not a good shot in golf!
