No tears as Big Easy bows out
GOLF: MASTERS 2017 ERNIE SHUNS SENTIMENT ANDY SMILES BETTER
® ERNIE ELS appeared to wave goodbye to Augusta yesterday as he completed his final round of the 2017 Masters.
The ‘Big Easy’ took a stroll in the burning sun, soaking up the sights and sounds of a golf course he might never grace again.
There were no heroics from Els yesterday. No final fling.
His crushing 83 in the third round saw him tee off first but there were more bogeys than birdies as he limped round in 78, ending at 20over for the tournament.
Journey
This place will haunt Els until his dying day because it remains one of the game’s greatest unsolved mysteries – just how did he not win a Green Jacket?
Els said: “In the other Majors, things happen to you, but at this one it didn’t. It’s probably the last one.
“I don’t do sentiment, I’m still too young for that, but it was good to be out there playing. I’ve won around the world, but this tournament just wasn’t the one for me.
“But you know, it’s been good. If I come back again, then great. If I don’t, it’s been good.”
Joining Els on his sentimental journey was club member Jeff Knox, who acts as a Masters ‘marker’ when the draw for the final two rounds throws up an odd number.
Knox must have felt like the luckiest amateur on the planet.
South African Els has won four Majors, has 57 victories worldwide and millions in the bank to fund his private jet. His ‘Els for Autism’ foundation is thriving.
But there will always be something missing – the most famous jacket in sport that has eluded him since he made his Masters debut in ® 1994. Between 2000 – where he finished second to Vijay Singh – and 2004 he didn’t finish outside the top six.
It is the last of those challenges that still pains him to recall.
Having shot a final round 67, he stood on the practice putting green waiting for Phil Mickelson to complete the 18th hole, with the American needing a birdie to win.
Els couldn’t see his rival because of the crowd but heard the roar as Mickelson sank a famous putt from 18ft.
As the ground shook, the runnerup just picked up his ball and strolled towards the clubhouse. He never challenged again after that.