Honest about Ernie
A wry smile came over my face when Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els carded respectively on Black Thursday at Birkdale, as virtually no-one else in the world is calling it.
That's not because I have a beef against either player or wish to see them, or anyone else for that matter, struggle. Except maybe Scott Hoch.
It's just that two of my esteemed colleagues have a wager on this pair at every major. And I, as tradition dictates, mock them.
Not the Mickelson fan so much - Lefty will win more majors for sure, just not the Open. But I keep telling the Ernie backer that his man will never claim another major title. Fact.
Let's look at Mickelson first. He's obviously blessed with enormous talent but links golf is different to the US target golf he excels at. Earlier this week, Mickelson was talking about how his third place in the Open at Royal Troon in 2004 was an epiphany.
That was when, he claims, he grasped the subtle arts of the British seaside game. He says he learnt to take some of his trademark prodigious spin off the ball, punch lower shots below the wind and employ bump-and-runs instead of instinctively reaching for the lob wedge. And since this light bulb went off in his head, he's finished 60th, 22nd and missed the cut in the last three Opens.
I only saw Mickelson play one hole on Thursday - the 17th - and out of about eight groups that came through, only one ball pitched on the green and then sucked back viciously, as though a giant vacuum cleaner had been placed down the fairway. Mickelson's. The ball screwed back down to the lower tier and he three-putted for a bogey.
I hadn't seen his score at that point, but the methodology, and the ensuing bemused half-smile and lackadaisical gait told me all I needed to know. He was having a 'mare.
Losing a ball in atrocious conditions doesn't help, as he did at the 6th. But it still seems that he's playing the wrong game, like a man trying to play chess on a snakes and ladders board.
You might think this is over-complicating the sport - it's still hitting a ball around a field after all. But not all Test batsmen are good at one-day cricket.
Rafael Nadal was the King of Clay but couldn't beat Roger Federer on grass. He went away, adapted and finally took down his nemesis at Wimbledon.
Mickelson had the chance, as the top-ranked player in the tournament, to add a Claret Jug to his two Masters and one USPGA title. But he's proved he's yet to really embrace links golf.
Els, meanwhile, appears to be running out of steam. There is a caveat, in that life with an autistic son must make it hard to focus single-mindedly on the job, and surely gives the game some perspective.
But for a player with arguably the best links pedigree in the field at Birkdale to slump to his worst-ever Open score adds another layer to the growing impression that his time at the top is at an end.
Sure, he's won on the PGA Tour this year. But when it counts in the big ones, his final determination to dip for the line seems lacking and the Big Easy appears to coast home. He'll say he's trying his hardest, as all good sportsmen should. But results are the true arbiter.
Els has clearly suffered most in the Tiger Woods era. As the 1994 and 1997 US Open champion and golf's rising star he had the world at his feet. Woods then knocked him - and the rest of the game - for six.
In 2004, Els went close in all four majors but ended up with nothing and took a while to recover mentally. Knee surgery in 2005 set him back, too, but he vowed on his return to make a tilt at Woods's number one spot.
Valiant talk, but Els has never been quite the same player that he was. And the American, at least before his injury, was untouchable.
It is testament to Els's consistency that he is still number five in the world. But whether he has that deep-down yearning - need, even - to force himself over the line in a major, I personally doubt.
My mate will still back him, though.
I'm Rob Hodgetts and I cover golf and stuff for 91Èȱ¬ Sport online when I am not news editing or managing the front page.
Comment number 1.
At 18th Jul 2008, macdougal_slug wrote:Agree about Ernie, sadly. But like all great players he will have 3 or 4 great weeks over the next few years, one of which he might just finish off.
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Comment number 2.
At 18th Jul 2008, waterman71 wrote:I hope you are wrong! The Big Easy will be back, maybe not this week but he will be back.
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Comment number 3.
At 18th Jul 2008, matt wrote:im afraid i think this is a pretty poor snipe at 2 great players - youve said yourself els is still 5 in the world. Birkdale in sideways rain and 30 mile an hour winds is not fun and it comes down to getting thru the conditions rather than making the birdies. these guys failed to hang in there but to write off their major chances or question their desire just shows a lack of understanding.
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Comment number 4.
At 18th Jul 2008, politeBoobie wrote:"But I keep telling the Ernie backer that his man will never claim another major title. Fact."
Have you the ability to predict the future? If so, please tell me which shares to buy and which horses to back.
As a journalist, you will no doubt be aware of the dictionary definition of the word "fact": knowledge or information based on real occurrences.
Since, Els's career is not over, you cannot say he will not win another major. "Fact".
You may very well be right in your opinion that he will probably not win another major. But you cannot state it as "fact".
So, stop using meaningless colloquial hyperbole and produce some good journalism instead.
Thank you.
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Comment number 5.
At 18th Jul 2008, mr_hag wrote:"But I keep telling the Ernie backer that his man will never claim another major title. Fact."
I guess it is a fact that you have been telling your friend Ernie will never win another major.
Now how about saying something intelligent about Ernie winning another major?
Or just say something intelligent about golf - anything will do.
The worlds waits with bated breath.
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Comment number 6.
At 18th Jul 2008, river_pines wrote:A very poor swipe at 2 of the best golfers in the last 15 years...
Disappointed that you felt it was a good idea to write about 2 guys who have won 6 majors (i think) between them and say they are finished. When you are probably praising guys like garcia, rose, westwood...
Least they stayed out there unlike Lyle....
Think you need to focus your writing on something more constructive mate !
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Comment number 7.
At 18th Jul 2008, river_pines wrote:Greg Norman will never win another major FACT ! (dammm)
Ya reporting numpty !!
Seve will never win another major FACT
Faldo will never win another major FACT
realised your stupid yet !!!
Woods wont win another major in 2008 FACT
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Comment number 8.
At 18th Jul 2008, politeBoobie wrote:It would seem this was a rather silly article...FACT!
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Comment number 9.
At 18th Jul 2008, jpftb wrote:Hang on guys, if it had been written in capitals - FACT - it would be irrefutable evidence that Els will never win another major. FACT.
See.
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Comment number 10.
At 18th Jul 2008, politeBoobie wrote:Ah ha! Perhaps it is an acronym?
Foolish
Author's
Condemnatory
Tirade
Mr.Hodgetts has out-foxed us all!
The ironic thing is I don't have an opinion one way or the other about Els. I just strongly object to opinion being represented as fact. Fact!
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Comment number 11.
At 18th Jul 2008, Rob Hodgetts - 91Èȱ¬ Sport wrote:Hi everyone,
Thanks for taking the time to respond to my blog. It seems I've annoyed you by my use of the word "fact" and for that I apologise.
It was meant to describe the certainty with which I told my friend, as part of some very high-spirited banter, that I didn't think Els would win another major. If I've communicated this poorly then I'm sorry.
However, I stand by the opinion. It's my own view and you've got yours, which is great.
It's still a good talking point, though. And what about Mickelson? Anyone think he can win the Open?
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Comment number 12.
At 18th Jul 2008, politeBoobie wrote:Thank you Rob Hodgetts for the reply. It is very good to have a writer who will do so and even apologise. Respect to you.
As you say, it's your opinion and you are entitled to it.
By the way, what's up with Scott Hoch then?
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Comment number 13.
At 18th Jul 2008, Matt Slater wrote:Your mate is still backing Ernie. Fact.
And your mate's losses due to repeatedly backing Ernie to win majors now run into the hundreds of pounds. Fact.
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Comment number 14.
At 18th Jul 2008, Thanks A lot 91Èȱ¬7 wrote:Leftie does not have in him to win at Birkdale - ever.
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Comment number 15.
At 20th Jul 2008, mr_hag wrote:Ernie played 80 69 74 69. Not good enough to win the Open, certainly.
But for that opening round, he would have been in contention.
What does this mean?
He can play links golf. He can play three good rounds in a row. He can play a bad round.
Can he win another major? Obviously.
Will he? We'll see.
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