What more is there to say about Ernie Els?
IN: News | Australasian PGA | Johnnie Walker Classic (2003) | Wrap | by Bruce Young | 16 Feb 2003
Details of Lake Karrinyup Country Club
How do you keep finding superlatives for Ernie Els? His ten shot win in the AUD$2.85 million Johnnie Walker Classic at the Lake Karrinyup Golf Club in Perth was his second win in the event, the previous win coming at Hope Island in 1997, however comparing Ernie Els in 2003 verses the Ernie Els in 1997, is hardly worth the excercise.
This is a man who now openly admits he is playing at his very best ever. As he indicated in his post round interview, he has perhaps at times hit the ball, as well, if not better, but it is his overall game that is now so good. He is putting the scores on the board, in addition to striking the ball sureperbly and is therefore, he believes, playing better than ever.
He was quick to praise his support team, including his coach David Leadbetter, his caddy Ricci, his wife and family and the man who has made him believe what we all knew, Jos Vantisphout, his sports psychologist.
Els has raced a long way ahead of any others in the pursuit of Tiger Woods, however, the next few weeks will tell quite a story as to how close the gap between he and the world number one has narrowed. Events like the Accenture Match Play which, should they win all matches leading into the final will see them pitted against each other over 36 holes, will answer questions already being asked but it will be Augusta where the real litmus test will come.
Els is class with a capital C. He is not only one of the finest players of the modern era but it is his preparedness to work closely with the media and, even though he is well paid to do so, support events around the world that make him such a popular figure in the game.
Clearly the new ball he is now using makes a difference but so do the many other things on which he has been working to take his game to a new level. He is now in the category of Daly in terms of distances, he can hit the ball but yet with far greater control and importantly the discretion as to when he wants to use it.
Halfway through the second round, when he trailed Robert Allenby and David Lynn by three shots, it was almost as if he found another gear when he reeled off a back nine of 29 and repeated the dose the following day to leave them gasping in his wake.
There were many other fine performances, other than the obvious, on a golf course that is a far greater test than the numbers would suggest.
Andre Stoltz's tie for second again highlighted that this young man is ready to go to another level with his game. He has a status in Japan this year that will ensure him many starts. It may be, the way he is playing, that other options become available to him as he also has two Nationwide events coming up in which he can compete and a victory in either will give him a start on secondary tour, as per Gavin Cloes last year following his win in the Jacobs Creek Open.
Stephen Leaney, with his tie for second place, has consolidated a position in the top 64 in the world rankings and as a result will head for Carlsbad in California for the Accenture Match Play in two weeks time.
Michael Long showed a return to form with a tie for 11th following a difficult twelve months where he lost his status on the USPGA Tour. Also in 11th place was Craig Spence who did a great job, after so long in the wilderness, to hang on and prove he still has what it takes to be competitive. In 1999, Spence finished in the top five in tournaments across Europe, Japan, Australia and the US and gained his card late that year to play on the US Tour in 2000. He did not retain his card but had sufficient status to play in several events in 2001. That did not work out and when he failed at the tour school late that year he was without a card to play on any tour in 2002. He battled away picking up the odd start through Monday qualifying for the Buy.Com Tour and there were the occasional glimmers of hope.
Bradley Hughes has also had a tough time of of late and, while his 25th placing may not appear as anything special for a guy who has two second placings on the USPGA Tour, I am sure it will be a boost for the confidence of Hughes as he heads for a year on the Nationwide Tour (ex-Buy.com).
Chris Downes bounced back from a couple of disappointing weeks following his New Zealand Open heroics to grab a share of fifteenth place, further highlighting that this is a man with game.
All in all, a brilliant week for Australian golf fans to see a golfer, at the height of his game and second only to arguably the greatest of all time in Tiger Woods, perform at his best.
The European Tour heads to Malaysia for the Carlsberg Malaysian Open while the Australasian Tour has the week off before the Jacob's Creek Open in Adelaide starting February 27th.
