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I watched the clocks move ahead an hour at 2 AM Sunday morning. Suddenly, in the blink of an eye, it was 3 AM. No one told Ernie Els apparently, as he turned back the clock at least six years Sunday afternoon. That's how long it has been since Mr. Els stood in front of the cameras holding a very large trophy.
A final round 66 completed a journey that feels like it's gone on forever. Perhaps it's something about turning 40? Who knows. I watched the final pairing on Sunday mostly to see Charl Schwartzel, the 25 year old South African who has won twice this year on the European tour. I learned that Mr. Schwartzel has some very serious game, and that somehow Mr. Els turned back time. I think it was the 25 ft par save on the 14th hole that restored Mr. El's shaky confidence, not restored so much as firmed it up, while slapping the youngster upside the head and awaking him to the reality that he was trying to win for the first time in the USA and beat a legend in the process. Just a tad too much reality. From that point on Mr. Schwartzel began having issues and wound up with a final round 70, four shots behind and alone in second place, for his second top 10 finish in a World event this year.
Mr. Els played with a confidence I haven't seem him display in a long long time. The victim of too many real life intrusions on a personal level, his professional life suffered in mediocrity. I know my thoughts were usually centered on, gee whiz remember how good Ernie Els used to be? I wonder where he left his game? Thoughts I'd bet he entertained more than a couple of times over the years. When nice guys lose their greatness and become just very good they become the recipients of many sighs and shakes of the head coupled with a lot of remember whens. That stuff starts quietly in the background but eventually folks are doing that when the ex-great enters the room rather than when they leave the room. It's got to claim rent some large space inside one's psyche. I certainly hope this is the beginning of a resurgence for Mr. Els. I really enjoy when he plays well, mostly because of how easy he makes the game appear. Hopefully whatever demons owned the inside of his head can be more easily crowded into a corner and silenced while he returns to playing golf the way he's played in the past.
Take a good look at the leaderboard now that the tournament is complete. Count off the top 10 names. How many do you recognize? Seriously, toss out the two Americans ( I bet some might not even know them very well), and Mr. Els along with Padraig Harrington. What's left are names we'll all be knowing soon enough. In addition to Mr. Schwartzel is a young German player who may be the best player you know nothing about, Martin Kaymer the European Tour rookie of the year in 2008 when he won twice. In 2009 Mr. Kaymer also won twice, in back to back events, and finished third on the Order of Merit, all before turning 25 years old. Mr. Kaymer may be kicking everyone around sooner rather than later. I highly suggest you remember the name. Alvaro Quiros, the oldest of these three at 26, can hit the ball off the planet. That might be an exaggeration, but not by a lot. He has three top 10's around the world this year alone. Paul Casey is another name in that short list, despite the Ryder Cup flap his mouth created, this is another man who has a whole lot of game.
As for the two Americans on the list, Matt Kuchar is the name most fans will remember from his promising amateur career. After joining the professional ranks Mr. Kuchar kind of lost his way, but this year has been markedly different. He has three top three finishes including this event thus far in the season. Bill Haas finished T6 and won earlier this year at the Hope Classic. Has been lacking consistency to this point in the season, which is not surprising given his youth. Put the games of Mr. Kuchar and Mr. Haas up against the three young Euros and the Euros win in a knockout. Golf is the winner, when there are so many talented young 'uns in the game the entertainment value goes way up for golf fans everywhere. We shall be fortunate to live in interesting times.
