HONOLULU ? Ernie Els boarded his private plane for Thailand feeling as optimistic about his game as he did last year, minus one of the trophies from the Hawaii swing.

“I made big strides this week,” Els said after winning the Sony Open for the second straight year in a playoff. “It’s a long, hard battle all year. I want to give it a go, see if I can contend in the majors and follow my dream and hopefully achieve it one day. I’m feeling good.”

Els swept both PGA Tour events a year ago, the Mercedes Championships and the Sony Open. Everyone figured he was poised to have a big year and challenge Tiger Woods.

He went on to win seven times around the world, but he failed to win a major and lost ground to Woods.

Els had to settle for only one victory on the islands this year, but it was memorable.

His week began Tuesday when he played a practice round with 14-year-old Michelle Wie, who posted the best score (68) by a woman competing against the men on the PGA Tour.

Wie said her practice round with Els put her at ease for the week, and her performance was remarkable. With two birdies on her final three holes, she missed the cut by one shot.

The Big Wiesy gave way to the Big Easy at the end of the week.

Els closed with a 65 and holed a do-or-die birdie putt from 10 feet on the final hole to force a playoff with Harrison Frazar. On the first extra hole, Els had to get up-and-down for par to extend the playoff. Then after blowing a great opportunity to win, he closed out the Texan with a 30-foot birdie on third playoff hole.

He became the first repeat winner at Waialae since Corey Pavin in 1987 and the first player since Nick Faldo in the Masters (1989-90) to win the same tournament back-to-back in a playoff.

Where does it leave him?

Ernie Els celebrates after making a 30-foot birdie on the third playoff hole to win the Sony Open. Els won the event Sunday at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu.

All over the place.

Els is the most global golfer among active players. He will take a week off in Thailand before playing in the Johnnie Walker Classic, then play twice in Australia before returning to the PGA Tour, either in February or March.

When he returns, he has two players to catch.

Woods, who did not play in the Sony Open, remains No. 1 and likely will stay there at least another year.

Vijay Singh is No. 2, and his 10th consecutive finish in the top 10 at the Sony Open did nothing to suggest that was going to change.

Els, however, is concerned only with himself.

Els, once spooked by the sight of Woods winning four straight majors and dominating golf, is conditioning his psyche to pay more attention to his own game than to what Woods is doing.

But the two might cross paths more often this year.

Does it matter where Woods plays?

“Tiger is Tiger,” Els said. “You know he’s going to be around. It really doesn’t matter all that much. Hopefully, I can play like at Dubai when we meet again. I just want to get better and stay on course.”