Under The Microscope: Ernie Els Full name Theodore Ernest Els Nickname The Big Easy Born 17 October 1969 (age 39) Birhplace: ...
Under The Microscope: Ernie Els
Full name Theodore Ernest Els
Nickname The Big Easy
Born 17 October 1969 (age 39)
Birhplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
Height 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight 220 lb (100 kg; 16 st)
Nationality South Africa
Residence Wentworth, England;
George, South Africa
Spouse Liezl (m.1998)
Children Samantha (b.1999), Ben (b.2002)
With Ernie’s poor form of late, it’s easy to forget just how successful he has been. He has 60 professional wins to his credit (16 on the PGA Tour and 24 on the European Tour) including three major championships: the U.S. Open in 1994 at Oakmont, in1997 at Congressional and The Open Championship in 2002 at Muirfield.
Other highlights in Els' career include topping the 2003 and 2004 European Tour Order of Merit, and winning the World Match Play Championship a record seven times. He has held the number one spot in the Official World Golf Rankings and has been ranked in the top ten for a record 750 weeks. In July 2005, Els injured his left knee while sailing with his family in the Mediterranean. Despite missing several months of the 2005 season due to the injury, Els won the second event on his return, the Dunhill Championship. Many argue however that Els never truly found his best form since.
What’s In Ernie’s Bag
Bloggy Underfoot: Rain Rain Go Away
I was listening to a fascinating guest on The Last Word with Matt Cooper last week. His name was Ken Ring, an alternative meteorologist, from New Zealand. Several months ago, Ring also spoke to Cooper, and made the bold prediction of hailstones in June in Ireland. True to form, last week in Glenties Donegal, it pelted hail. Ring’s weather almanacs are the equivalent of the bible to Kiwi farmers, where by observing the cycles of the moon and the tides and their effect on atmospheric pressure, he has a much higher strike rate than conventional weather men.
The weather is something you just don’t think about when it comes to major sporting occasions. I set my alarm clock for eight o clock last Saturday morning and had the corn flakes in front of the telly in anticipation of a classic second rugby test between France and the All Blacks. Instead, I watched 30 players trying to hold on to a bar of soap in the bath. The rain was so bad, I decided bringing four kids to do the weekly shopping was less tortuous. The weather Gods can never be taken for granted.
In the golf world, we’ve already seen the effect of climate first hand at Baltray this year. Nasty wind and rain virtually eliminated half the field, before blazing sunshine and calm embraced the rest. The difference between a few closely spaced isobars, arguably propelled one man, namely Shane Lowry, to super stardom. In fairness he did close out the tournament with some gusto, but you just cant help but wonder if the result would have been different if the fie
ld all enjoyed the same conditions. Lowry’s decision to turn pro straight after, brought back memories of Justin Rose doing the exact same thing in the immediate aftermath the 1998 Open and regretting it. I hope, like Rose, that in the fullness of time, Lowry will grow into the accomplished and successful champion Rose is and we all know he can be. Every cloud has a silver lining and all that.
Which brings me to another question. Who in the world of European Tour officialdom decides the schedule and do they ever pick up the phone and talk to the Met Office? Surely the tournaments would be better scheduled according to the predicted climates in the various countries on the tour itinerary. If I were on the board, I would insist all tournaments in Ireland and Britain (Majors excepted) take place between July and September. But no, I’m not on the board and they came in May. What happened? It poured rain, made our country look on TV like the most inhospitable place to golf in the world, discouraged plane loads of potential golf tourists and annoyed 50% of the players who, when they sit down to plan next years playing itinerary, will think twice about coming to Ireland again. Strip away the veneer of Shane Lowry’s playoff win and you have a right royal European Tour cock-up.
The fact that the exact same thing happened at Bethpage was uncanny. Again half the field was subjected to terrible conditions and the halfway leaderboard read like a cross between the Futures Tour and the has-beens tour! Names like Ricky Barnes, David Duval and a guy called Yano lead the way after the second round compliments in no small part to the weather. I said last week that journeymen don’t win majors and maybe, just maybe, the weather Gods heard me and decided to do something about it. They simply handed it to Glover.
Dr. and The Medic: Laid Off
Problem
You hit inconsistently with hooks and slices but it is not due to a poor coil, weight shift problem or posture.
Cure
Check to see where your hands are positioned at the top of your backswing. If your hands are laid off or are not holding the club correctly at the top then it will cause the clubhead to come into the ball incorrectly.
Therapy
Using a mirror or a video camera with it pointed towards your trailing shoulder, swing the club back and stop at the top. Now look to see where your hands and clubhead are positioned. Are they positioned over your shoulder, as they should be? If they are, you know you have made a full turn while keeping your body on plane. If they are over your head or trailing arm, or if they have drifted too far away from your body, you know that you need to work on correcting your hand positioning at the top of your swing. Another way to check your hand position is to stop your swing at the top. Then simply allow your hands to drop straight down. You know that your hands were in proper position if they drop onto your shoulder.
The Caption Contest
Thanks to all who entered our quiz last week. We now have four names from which we will this week draw the winner of a free one year subscription to Setanta Sports (including Setanta Golf). This week we want your funniest caption for the picture below. Text your caption and contact details to 087-3140467. The winner gets a classy golf shirt from Golfstyle, Galway.
Congrats to last weeks winner Mike Barrett, Mitchelstown, Cork who goes into the Setanta draw. We will announce the winner next week.
I Want One Of Those: Srixon Z-Star Ball
Here’s a new alternative golf ball for better players who want max control over their short game. The wafer-thin, soft urethane cover provides serious spin around the green. A new urethane coating increases spin by 500 rpm on shots from rough. Shallow dimples plus an invisible seam contribute to its penetrating flight. The large core—gradually firmer from center to perimeter—is designed to maintain a high launch while limiting driver spin. Z-Star is an acronym for "Spin, Trajectory, Acceleration and Resilience." Used by players such as Henrik Stenson, Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh.
Bet Your Balls
Odds thanks to Boylsports who have kindly given us a €30 charity bet each week.
All winnings from June will go to Barretstown.
BMW International Open
Golfclub München Eichenried
Munich, Germany
25 Jun 2009 - 28 Jun 2009
Niclas Fasth 66/1
Charity Bet: €20 win
Niclas Fasth has been to been to the depths with his game and is now beginning to climb back out. Very solid in Wales on the tours last outing, eventually finishing second, his first top ten of the season. A determined character, Fasth is returning to the site of his last victory on tour in 2007.
John Bickerton 125/1
Charity Bet: €10 win
N obody strikes the ball like Bicks. When you watch him on the range, you cant help but wonder why he isn’t in contention more often. Problems with the short stick however see him down in 142nd in the order of merit. Bickerton tied third here last year shooting 68, 67 on the weekend and loves the Munich layout. Also second in 2002.
Thomas Levet 50/1
Did you ever notice the way the expression on an interviewed golfers facial expression always turns stone cold when the interview is over? Not so however with genial Thomas Levet, the golfing equivalent of Mary Poppins. The ever beaming Frenchman has already won in 2009, claiming the Open de Espana. Has gone low in Munich in the past also, shooting 63 on his way to second in 2004.
Travelers Championship
TPC River Highlands · Cromwell
Hunter Mahan 18/1
Two top tens in 14 events this season is a little less than you would expect from Ryder Cup hero Hunter Mahan, but the 14 cuts made is pretty impressive. Usually kick starts his season here in Connecticut where he won in a playoff in 2007 and very nearly repeated the feat last year tying second behind Stewart Cink. Fantastic showing in Bethpage too!
Stewart Cink 16/1
Six foot four inch Stewart Cink is an imposing figure, but imposing probably isn’t the word to describe his 2009 tour campaign. Since his third in the WGC matchplay in January, Cink’s game has been in the doldrums. Tied eighth at The Memorial a couple of weeks back indicating some form. The defending champion this week has the unenviable distinction of being married while still in college!
Michael Letzig 66/1
If you are looking for a bit of an each-way flutter, try Michael Letzig. The titleist staff player is a pro since 2002 but graduated onto the PGA tour in 2008 having finished 12th on the Challenge tour in 2007. Letzig can go low too, he shot an excellent 63 here last year on his way to 10th. Having only missed one cut all season, I predict a breakthrough soon for Michael Letzig.
Tailored Shorts
Open Rip Off
Tickets to the U.S. Open cost over $100. Though Thursday was rain soaked with very little golf to watch, the USGA decided against refunds or rain checks for those fans who bought tickets. In a recession hit environment with sponsors hard to come by, the treatment of fans by the USGA does nothing to shed the elitist tag that still dogs the organiztion.
Ken Green Accident Update
Five time PGA Tour winner Ken Green has had to have his lower right leg amputated following his road accident on June 9th. Green was driving on the Interstate near Hickory, Mississippi, when the right front tire of his motorhome blew out. Green was unable to control the vehicle and ran off the road and down an embankment before hitting a large oak tree. Green's brother and girlfriend were killed and Green, who was not wearing a seat belt also suffered serious head injuries.
During his time in professional golf, Green was the John Daly of his era. He has had over two dozen fines levied by the PGA for pranks which included sneaking some buddies into The Masters in the trunk of his car and drinking beer on the course while playing with Arnold Palmer at the 1997 Masters.
Cut and Towel Dried
The USGA needed some extra helpers to squeegee the water logged greens on Saturday. Those hanging around looking for work after missing the cut included former major champions Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els, David Toms, Justin Leonard and Michael Campbell. Bunker rakers were needed for Saturday too. Rory Sabbatini, Luke Donald, Brian Gay and Miguel Angel Jimenez were all asked but declined. Paul Casey is rumoured to have been seen on a greens mower hard at work shortly before the final round.
Youngest Ever British Amateur Champ
Matteo Manassero, who tied for 19th last month at the Italian Open on the European Tour has won the British Amateur championship, making the 16-year-old the youngest player and first Italian to win golf’s oldest amateur tournament. Manassero, who also had the best score in stroke-play qualifying, defeated Sam Hutsby of England 4 and 3 in the matchplay final. The victory makes Manassero eligible for the British Open next month and the Masters next year.
Smit Pips Woosie
South African Bertus Smit pipped Iam Woosnam to win the Ryder Cup Wales Seniors Open at Royal Porthcawl and in doing so realised a truly improbable fairytale. A former wheat farmer, 56 year old Smit uffered a stroke in 2006 which left him partially blind with only 45 per cent vision in his right eye. He holed a 25ft birdie putt on the last hole for a final round 69 to finish on five under par 211 capture his first title in his 49th Senior Tour appearance.
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