KATHIE SHEARER:  You didn’t play like you hoped you’d play this week.

ERNIE ELS:  No.  I was kind of hanging in there.  I think the shot on 18 yesterday after a beautiful drive – it’s amazing, after all this experience, I couldn’t quite get over that one.  I was looking forward to maybe making three or four, and I make six.  Dinner wasn’t good and just a lot of bad stuff.  I just didn’t quite swing enough or good enough and so be it.  But, it was always going to be tough for me to play well with next week coming up.  There’s a lot going on.

Q.  You can shift your focus that now, right and really go hard?

ERNIE ELS:  Yeah, absolutely.  Actually even last night, I got some pairings going for the guys and so things are really getting set up now.  I’m really focused on next week now, absolutely.

Q.  Has the Australian Open and the way the guys have played, influenced that at all, your pairings?

ERNIE ELS:  No, my long term view is long term form.  I’ve picked guys who have played well for a long term.  One week or one round is not going to change anything in my view. The guys are quality players, they’ve made great strides in making the team and I believe in them.  If they have a bad round or a bad tournament, it’s not changing my view on that.

Q.  It’s been reported that Tiger may play up to four matches.  Are you preparing for Tiger to play a fair bit next week?

ERNIE ELS:  What kind of news is this?  Where do you get your reporting from?  Anyway, whatever happens, I can’t worry about what they’re doing, I’m worried about what we’re doing.  If he plays a lot, he plays a lot.  It doesn’t really change anything.  It’s a point per match and that’s what we’re focused on, trying to get as many points as we can.

Q.  Will you fly to Melbourne tonight or tomorrow morning or will you hang around here for the weekend?

ERNIE ELS:  I’ve got a couple of things to do, unfortunately, otherwise I’d be down there this evening.  But, I’ll be going down there as soon as I can.  I think I’ve got some commitments to do tonight and maybe tomorrow and then I’ll be out of here as soon as I can and get to the golf course and see what the golf course is like.

Q.  Is it a difficult thing for the players, your guys, to maintain their focus here knowing that next week is so big?

ERNIE ELS:  I think so.  I think the guys have really got their minds on next week, the guys I’ve spoken to.  It would be great if they catch form and get themselves in the hunt.  I see Louis is right up there, Scotty I think had a good one today, so most of the guys are playing the weekend, so that’s great.  I think the guys have got their minds on next week, definitely, trying to get themselves in form.

Q.  You touched on this the other day, but it’s the first time there’s only one South African playing since you did in ’98 when they won.  Do you take that as an in form moment and are there any concerns about the South African golf future or kids coming through?

ERNIE ELS:  No, Brandon came close and Charl (had) an injury, some of the other guys came close, Erik van Rooyen.

Q.  Justin Harding?

ERNIE ELS:  Justin Harding was playing well.  So, there’s quite a lot of guys, they just didn’t quite do enough and we’ve got a lot of good talent coming through.  To come back to your question, yes, the last time there was one South African we won – so that could be a good omen.  Obviously, Louis is in great form and hopefully his body stays in shape.

KATHIE SHEARER:  We want to thank you and wish you all the best next week.

ERNIE ELS:  Thank you.