Ernie Els Wins British Open
The British Open on Sunday was a great round of golf for those that love to root for the underdog and watch a major upset unfold right before their eyes. Add in those who rely on their feelings and belief to get them through, a parallel story, and a whole lot of role models to go around and the Open had something for everyone.
Most of the day it looked like it was Adam Scott’s tournament. And when he was four strokes ahead with only four holes to go, he had it all just about clinched up. But never say never in the world of sports and just after a near-perfect putt on the 14th hole, the Aussie native started to fall apart. Taking three separate putts on the 16th and then hitting an awkward shot on the 17th clearly shook Scott’s confidence and that was all Els needed to get the job done.
Spectators were stunned, but no more so than Adam Scott. “I’m pretty disappointed,” he said after the tournament. “I managed to hit a poor shot on each of the last four holes. It was a very sloppy finish and disappointing after having played so well before it.”
Els himself was also just as shocked, and didn’t allow himself the pleasure of taking in his victory until he gave a well-deserved nod to his respected opponent. “It feels amazing. I am still numb. It hasn’t set it. I haven’t been in this position for 10 years. It is just a crazy game. I’m worn down. I feel for Adam Scott, he is a great friend of mine, and we both wanted to win very badly. I really feel for him, but it is the nature of the beast. It was my time for some reason.”
But both Scott and Els had different people on their minds that day other than each other. Scott was coincidentally playing with his long-time hero, Greg Norman, who had suffered the same kind of shocking defeat at his own 1996 Masters Tournament — that one being at the hands of Nick Faldo.
Els, who was given the tournament by Scott, also had his own hero on his mind that day, even if it wasn’t that of a golf champion. After his win he talked about how he’d love to give Nelson Mandela a drink from the Claret Jug, because the social warrior had always been his own hero.
“I have been doing some little sound bites for the Olympics and a lot of the theme this year has got President Mandela in it,” Els said. “So he is very much in my thoughts. I was watching South Africa this morning and the thought came through me in a split second. I told myself that if I won, I had better thank President Mandela because I grew up in the era of apartheid, and then changing into a democratic era.”
Els also spoke of the how the previous majors he’s won in the past came right after that change some time ago. After those wins he had faded into the background, and has once again reminded everyone that he’s a great name in golf.
Categorized in: Golf