‘Big Easy’ puts in perfect links practice for Open
Els and Mickelson bemused by so few top players pitching up for the Scottish tournament
GOLFERS are rarely slow to spot a trend that might boost their chances of success. But it seems to have eluded most of the world’s top players that the last two men to win the Open Championship both warmed up for their triumphs by playing in the Scottish Open the previous week.
Only two of the world’s best 25 players entered the Scottish Open at Castle Stuart this week, a few kilometres east of Inverness.
As there are precious few other chances to hone the skills needed on a links course, it is a staggeringly small number, and all the more so after Darren Clarke and Ernie Els showed what a useful investment participation could be.
Els and Phil Mickelson, respectively 13th and eighth in the world rankings, are the only two who turned up. And neither the South African
Castle Stuart is a very new links course, and I love it because it’s not as tough a week as the main event at Muirfield
nor the American can understand why.
“Obviously, with playing in the Open the week after the Scottish Open, this is the perfect preparation to play some kind of links golf,” Els said. “Castle Stuart is a very new links course, and I love it because it’s not as tough a week as the Open.”
Asked if he was surprised that so many of the world’s elite players had declined the opportunity to play at Castle Stuart, Els said: “Yes, I am actually. I would have thought more international players would have shown up here, especially as it’s just a drive down to Muirfield.
“But the comments have been made — some of the guys don’t think they get a real test [at Castle Stuart]. It’s just remarkable.”
All this paled into insignificance when Els stepped onto the Inverness greens on Thursday after his impressive victory in the BMW International in Germany.
The 43-year-old went into the Munich event having finished fourth in the US Open. The “Big Easy” followed up that excellent showing with a one-stroke success over Thomas Bjorn in Munich.
This was his first win since beating Adam Scott in such dramatic fashion at Lytham last July.
“Obviously it gives me a lot of self-belief,” Els said after his 69 for an 18-under total.
“Wire to wire you’ve got the pressure and every night you’ve got to sleep on it. That was quite a week for me.
“There were a lot of strong players in this field. I’m really looking forward to Muirfield.”
Isn’t he just. He won at the revered East Lothian links the last time The Open was held there in 2002.
Els has rededicated himself to his career in the last year, winning at the Open and then coming so close at Merion.
The Big Easy could well become the first to retain the Claret Jug since Padraig Harrington in 2008.
South African golf fans will be treated to a feast of television golf coverage this week during the British Open Championship at Muirfield, in Scotland.
With Els as the defending champion, local broadcaster SuperSport will have a team on hand to showcase every moment.
In the lead up to the first round on Thursday, daily previews and footage from the 2012 edition will feature prominently from tomorrow to Wednesday.
The broadcaster’s schedule also includes daily wraps and reaction from the course once the Open is under way.
Senior producer Louis Hattingh said they would be well-prepared if a South African lifts the Claret Jug after the fourth round.
“Should we have a South African winner, we will have exclusive interviews and get behindthe-scenes with him,” Hattingh said this week.
“We will package highlights for the Blitz channel and have stand-alone shows for the following week — as we did in 2010 with Louis Oosthuizen’s Open win at St Andrews, Charl Schwartzel’s victory at the Masters in 2011 and Ernie’s great win last year at Royal Lytham.”— ©