Ernie looking for a ‘double’ at the home of golf
ERNIE ELS is aiming for what he calls a “links double” in the Alfred Dunhill Championship in Scotland this week.
In the 1990s the South African team of Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and David Frost twice won the 16-nation Dunhill Cup, but since the tournament switched to an individual strokeplay event over 72 holes in 2001, there has been no South African winner.
“I’ve come close a few times, but maybe winning the Open this year will be a good omen for me. Maybe I can do the links double,” the Big Easy said yesterday.
“At the weekend I switched into sports fan mode and like everyone else enjoyed watching the Ryder Cup on television.
“I’ve got friends on both teams, but whatever your allegiances it was hard to think of a more enthralling day’s golf than Sunday’s singles matches. I’ve certainly never seen anything like it – amazing stuff.
“It’ll be fun this week to catch up with a few of the guys on the European team who are teeing it up in the Dunhill.
“This is definitely one of my favourite stops on tour and there are many reasons why. Obviously, it’s a unique format, but for me the heart of this tournament’s appeal is the three great links courses that we get to play – St Andrews Old Course, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Everyone knows how much I love links golf.
“The weather invariably plays a big part here, but all things being equal there’s no doubt in my mind Carnoustie is the toughest.
“Another reason I love this week is because I team up with my Dad in the separate pro-am competition and that’s special.
“A links double would be extra special, but whatever happens I’m sure it’s going to be another great four or five days for my Dad and me. You couldn’t share this kind of experience in any other sport but golf and I cherish that.”
Besides Els, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel head a large South African entry here.
Other SA players in the field are SA Open champion Hennie Otto, George Coetzee, Thomas Aiken, Jaco van Zyl, Branden Grace, Darren Fichardt, James Kingston, Jbe Kruger, Tjaart van der walt, Christiaan Basson, Richard Sterne, Keith Horne, Alex Haindl, Warren Abery, Allan Versfeld, Dylan Frittelli and Anton Haig.