The Golf Watch

I wonder what Ernie is thinking as he approaches the Bear Trap...

I wonder what is going through Ernie Els' mind as he approaches the Bear Trap with a share of the lead.  There is no shortage of water on the final few holes at PGA National, and the last two times Els has been in contention at a tournament, he has hit three poor shots that have gone into the drink. The drama will start on the 15th hole, with a pin tucked very close to the water.

Hewitt: Els' agent says he is leaning toward playing in WGC next week

There is a good chance that Ernie Els will be competing in next week's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, reported Brian Hewitt on Wednesday night's edition of Golf Central.  Els originally wrote on his website that he would not start playing on the PGA Tour until the Florida swing.  But Hewitt talked to Els' agent, Chubby Chandler, who indicated that Els is anxious to play in the match play event and is leaning toward coming.  If Els decides to play, then Anthony Kim would be knocked out of the tournament, barring any last minute withdrawals. 

Woods wins again over Els

Just as I was writing last night that Tiger Woods might be in trouble at the Dubai Desert Classic with his erratic driving--Woods came out earlier today and erased a four stroke deficit between himself and Ernie Els to win for the second week in a row.  Woods fired a 7-under 65, which included an impressive up-and-down for birdie at the par-5 18th, to beat up and coming European star Martin Kaymer by one stroke and Els by two.  Dating back to the 1998 Johnnie Walker Classic, Woods' dominance over Els in competitive play has been remarkable. 

Tiger in trouble in Dubai

It's fair to say that Tiger Woods is in trouble right now at the Dubai Desert Classic.  Woods has seen his two-round lead disappear, and now trails Ernie Els by four strokes heading into Sunday's final round.  Just like last week's Buick Invitational, Woods is struggling off the tee box, averaging less than 50% fairways hit. 

Even though Els leads Woods by four strokes, there are eight other players within four strokes of the lead, including Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia.  I wouldn't be surprised if Els' final hole collapse at the Dunhill Championship in December is still on his mind.

Els announces '08 schedule, won't play in US until late February

Ernie Els released his schedule for the 2008 season, and surprisingly, the world's number five golfer will not be playing in the US until the Florida swing and the Honda Classic in late February.  This means that Els will miss the Accenture Match Play Championship in Tuscon the week before.  Els explained on his web site, "You may notice it (my schedule) looks a little different to previous years. This reflects my desire to try to gear my game around the majors and the other big tournaments. To be honest, I think there were maybe times in the past when I’ve tried to please too many people. Not now. I’m 38 and I need to think about me and how I can give myself the best chance to add to the three majors that I’ve already won."  The only other surprise to this writer is Els' decision to play in the Stanford St. Jude Championship the week before the US Open.  The TPC Southwind is not one of the hardest courses on tour, and won't offer the best preparation for the difficult conditions at Torrey Pines the following week.  Nevertheless, Els' presence is a big step for a tournament that raises a lot of money for St. Jude Hospital every year.

Els: Yesterday is the most disappointed I've felt walking off a golf course

Immediately following his collapse on the 18th hole at the Dunhill Championship, Ernie Els declined to talk to the media.  On Monday, Ernie Els decided to release a statement on his website about his triple-bogey finish.  "I’ve probably never felt less like posting a website report than I do this morning, but you know, in this game you have to take the rough with the smooth," said Els, who is currently ranked fifth in the world.  "To be honest with you, yesterday is about the most disappointed I’ve ever felt walking off a golf course. I was gutted. But hey, let’s keep things in proportion. This is sport. It’s not like anyone died out there. I just have to take it on the chin and move on."  Els has always been admired for his professionalism, and it shows.  He will play this week at the South African Airways Open, where he is anxious to get back into a competitive frame of mind.  "I think in many ways it’s a good thing that I’m playing again this week. I need to jump right back on the horse, so to speak. It’s not easy, but I have to try to take some of the positives from last week."

Nobilo: Els needs a victory

Golf Channel analyst Frank Nobilo said the following about Ernie Els' collapse on the 18th hole at the Dunhill Championship: "Just when you thought everything was going to be good.  Ernie Els was going to win in his native South Africa and '08 looked really exciting.  Ernie did what I basically never saw the Big Easy do before."  Els put his second shot in the water, and followed that up with a poor wedge shot that also went into the drink.  He went on to triple bogey the hole, and lose the tournament by one stroke. "I think that was one of the worst wedge shots I’ve ever seen him hit, basically going long and left...The one thing the Big Easy needs right now is victory.  And it needs to come quick, and it needs to come in big doses," said Nobilo.

Els, Sabbatini blow fourth round leads

Ernie Els came up to the par-5 18th tee box at the Dunhill Championship two strokes ahead of England's John Bickerton.  Els hit his drive into the fairway, but then hit his second shot into the water (pictured left). He followed that by putting his next approach shot into the water, and finished with a triple-bogey 8, giving Bickerton the win.  Another Sunday meltdown came from another world class player, Rory Sabbatini.  Sabbatini was playing in the Australian PGA and entered Sunday's final round with a one stroke lead.  However, the South African fired a 2-over 74, leaving him eight strokes out of the lead in a tie for 10th place.  Peter Lonard ended up winning the tournament for the third straight time. 

Els defends position to play in Singapore

Last year, Ernie Els signed a three-year committment to play at the Barclays Singapore Open, which will be played this week.  The last event of the European Tour, the Volvo Masters in Spain, is also taking place this week.  Due to Els' committment to  the Singapore Open, he will not play at the Volvo Masters--a controversial decision to some, considering Els is atop the European Tour's Order of Merit. But Els said in an article by John O'Brien of Reuters, "The decision to play in Singapore was made last year.  I'd love to play the Volvo Masters but if they screw up the dates then so be it.  The European Tour knew that I have a three-year commitment to the Singapore Open and I do not make the decision on when a tournament falls, so it's just one of those things."  Els could be knocked out of the number one position by Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose, Niclas Fasth, or Henrik Stenson.

Els moves up one spot to fourth in world golf ranking

Ernie Els said in December of 2006 that he was going to re-dedicate himself to the the game and give Tiger Woods a run for his money.  Els said, "I’ve got to give myself a three-year stretch to try to approach him and I really believe I can do it.  I wouldn’t be out here if I didn’t."  Els moved one step closer to that goal by capturing his first win of the year yesterday at the World Match Play Championship at Wentworth.  With the win, Els moves up from fifth in the world golf ranking, to fourth overall.  The 3-time major champion still has a lot of work to do over the next two years if he is going to catch Woods, especially if the world's number one golfer continues to win seven times in a year.