Smack dab in the prime of his career, Ernie Els was sitting at home for months nursing a torn-up knee.

Ernie Els, of South Africa, had to put his golf clubs away for five months after suffering a knee injury last year. The 36-year-old three-time major winner used the time to reassess his goals. (Annette M. Drowlette/Staff)

Some might call it a setback. Some might call it a forced vacation.

Els considered it halftime.

"I'm 36. Relatively speaking, I'm probably past my prime, aren't I?" said the three-time major winner from South Africa. "In fact, I'm not. I think after this break, it definitely feels like the second half is now in motion. I have had time to reflect on it, and I prepared myself well for the second half, so to speak. You know, I'm strong and I'm healthy, so I really am looking forward to it."

Even before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in a boating accident in the Mediterranean, Els seemed more in need of a break than anyone. Golf's biggest globetrotter left the British Open mumbling about needing some time off after another lackluster major performance only a year after contending in all of them.

A week later, while on family vacation, he was forced to the sofa in July.

"I wasn't happy, obviously, with what happened to me, but to spend the whole summer at home was great," he said. "And then after the summer, I wanted to play golf again. It was a nice, long holiday and then let's play golf again, but I couldn't.

"So there's good and bad. I think mainly good. Because it took me away from the game, I had no chance of getting on an airplane and flying and going to play in a tournament. I had to do what I had to do - do the rehab and get myself in shape. And that makes you think a lot."

Like a coach reassessing his strategy at halftime, Els fostered a renewed game plan. Many of the pieces are still the same, but his sense of urgency is more pronounced. He sees other top players, such as Vijay Singh and Jose Maria Olazabal, contending into their 40s and knows he has time left to fulfill more goals.

"So my goals are much more clear," he said. "I'm 36 years old, so, you know, I need to do things. I feel good about it. I think I've done a lot of work now, and basically it's time to see if it's going to click into good performances, and that's what I'm waiting for.

"With technology, there is no reason why I shouldn't be winning tournaments in the late 40s. I am hitting it over 300 yards and all of that stuff. So I'm keeping up here with the younger guys."

Whatever fears Els might have had about losing a step because of the injury were quickly alleviated when he finally returned in December. He won his first event back in South Africa and lost a playoff to Tiger Woods in Dubai in February.

His best finish on the PGA Tour this year is a tie for seventh at Doral.

"I cannot complain about the way I came back," Els said. "This could have been very different. I could be sitting here without any confidence now, hitting the ball all over the place. But the knee has been pretty good, and it's given me time to practice my game and get my game back in shape. So I'm very happy where I am right now."

Of all his remaining second-half goals, No. 1 comes this week at Augusta National Golf Club. Els thought he had a green jacket "in the bag" in 2004 before Phil Mickelson rallied to claim it.

"I want to look forward," Els said. "I've always said since I was in my 20s that I would love to win all four (majors). Saying it puts more pressure on you. So it's there, so I might as well talk about it. So that's what I want to do and try and achieve that before I'm done."

Reach Scott Michaux at (706) 823-3219 or scott.michaux@augustachronicle.com.