Els claims back-to-back wins at Heineken Classic

BY Bruce Young | Australasian PGA Tour | 2003 Heineken Classic | Wrap | 02 Feb 2003

This is what tournament golf is all about So many great stories unfolding over the final eighteen holes with three of the most interesting characters in the game going at each other.

Ernie Els, the games’ hottest player and perhaps closing in on some of Tiger’s accolades, Nick Faldo at age forty-five, the greatest winner of majors in the last twenty years outside of Woods and Peter Lonard at age thirty five continuing to bloom at a later stage in his golfing life than most. Throw into the mix the highly talented Paul Casey and there was plenty to keep the interest up through the final round.

Faldo led into round four and he got just the start he needed with an opening birdie from thirty feet, followed by a two putt birdie at the second to retain the lead but only narrowly from Ernie Els who had opened with four birdies in the first five holes. Faldo’s first blemish came at the par four sixth where he missed the green from the fairway perhaps being a little too aggressive and was unable to save his par from the bunker. Birdies at nine and ten had him back on track however and at fourteen under he shared the lead at that point with Lonard, whose improved tee to green display on day four and solid putting, had him threatening danger.

In the meantime Ernie Els, almost recovered from his tiring escapades of the three previous weeks, was making the move that would allow him to close on the leaders and eventually head them. He birdied six of the first ten holes although a bogey at the sixth had him sharing the lead with Lonard and Faldo. Consecutive birdies at the thirteenth and fourteenth had him in the lead but it was his great par saving putts from four meters on sixteen and two and a half meters on seventeen that saw him retain the lead playing eighteen. His attacking second to eighteen saw him catch the front trap only five meters from the flag and another great up and down saw him finish at fifteen under and leave it to those behind to see what they could do.

They did well, especially Lonard whose two meter birdie putt on fourteen saw him join Els at fifteen under and a fine three meter par saving putt at fifteen left him facing the eighteenth tied for the lead. He needed a drive down the left of the fairway or at worst on the fairway and when it came to rest in the right hand light rough it would always be a task to not only make a birdie to win but to even par the hole to tie. He somewhat surprisingly attacked the almost inaccessible flag looking perhaps to end it there rather than taking his chances on in a playoff. His aggressive second shot just caught the front bunker almost alongside the spot from where half an hour earlier Els had made four. Lonard’s bunker shot was strong and from three meters he missed left. With Faldo not able to birdie the last, the title was Els, his fourth in his last five starts.

Els will take a break this week and return to competitive golf at the Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth in two weeks time.

Faldo will be in Perth also while Lonard will play next week in Sydney and then head back to the USA for the Nissan Open at Riviera.

Outside of those performances already described there were several others worthy of mention. Paul Casey although backing off somewhat over the weekend, showed why he is considered along with Justin Rose, Luke Donald and Nick Dougherty the finest of prospects in British golf. He was The European Tour rookie of the year in 2001 and I was surprised somewhat by the television commentators almost dismissive attitude towards a man who has already won on the European Tour and has a great record in US Collegiate golf. His swing has a few too many moving parts for me but that he is able to have done what he has already, suggests that he has quite a future.

Of the Australians outside of Lonard, Peter Fowler followed up his second here last year with another top ten finish. His resurgence is inspiring for many and highlighted that much of the early 2003 form is being dominated by the over thirty brigade. Stephen Allan continues to gain confidence in readiness for a return to the US where he will gain several starts this year despite not having a full card. His first start there in 2003 will be at this coming week’s AT&T Pebble Beach event.

The leading New Zealander was David Smail although it was good to see young Eddie Lee, who had done so well here last year as an amateur, further establishing himself in the professional ranks with a 25th place. Also in 25th place was another recent recruit to the pro ranks Steve Bowditch, an encouraging performance.

The tour now moves to the New South Wales Golf Club for the ANZ Championship another co-sanctioned event.