By now everyone knows the That all changed over the weekend, though. For me personally, it was just another weekend of endless, well-lubricated Christmas parties, punctuated by one more stolen round of golf in CT's endless 2006 season. But for Ernie Els, and possibly for golf-as-we-watch-it in the 2007 season, it appeared to be a turning point. Ernie's victory in the SAA Open on Sunday allowed him, at the last minute, to maintain his proud record of "having won a tournament somewhere in the world every year since 1992", and it brought him back up to 5th on the World Ranking list. (He's now replaced fellow countryman Retief Goosen { sorry Ms. Retief-obsessed Jennifer } who has moved into 6th place, bumping Vijay Singh, down to 7th with recently promoted Padraig Harrington moving back to No 8.
Most importantly though, this victory has restored confidence to a player who - lets face it - is a dream to watch. Even if you don't find him sexy. It's also reinvigorated his quest to chase down Tiger for number one. And while even Ernie admits that,"...some people may find it laughable," he quickly adds that "it's one of the goals I want to achieve". It's strange - and a bit disconcerting - that so few players will even state this as a goal. Well, Ernie has almost made a career of it, and in his matches with Tiger have produced some of the most compelling golf ever.
So, I was really happy when, after this somewhat lost weekend, I found out that Ernie had won. I had no money on this tournament... no bets with Nick where a long week of servitude hung in the balance... but I imediately realized that the 2007 golf season now had the potential to be much more exciting.
More Ernie: If you can't get enough of the Big Easy, check out this post and this one. My fellow bloggers are writing about Ernie too.
Sorry but Ernie is no match for Tiger. It's OK if he want to think he is but it's never going to happen.
ReplyDeleteErnie is hot and he's a naughty boy so I would suggest you stay away from him.
ReplyDeleteYou're right Patricia. It's time for the other players to at least try to compete with Tiger. Today most of them just act like there is no way anyone will ever be real competition for him any time soon. That makes golf boring. I don't really like Els but I admire his ambition.
ReplyDeleteI'm still waiting to read about the Ernie Els look-alike on the cruise ship. Do tell. Please.
ReplyDeleteIt's not only Ernie Els who thinks he could be a match for Tiger , a certain Michelle Wie has put herself there too, laughably.
ReplyDeleteNow now...Where is the French Maid pic?
ReplyDeleteI'm with Persistant. I want French Maid NOT Ernie Els.
ReplyDeletePat,
ReplyDeleteI have to 3rd that motion on FM pics ;-)!
You could even have an entry to go along with it to tell us how long you have been playing? How your golf year went? How many courses you played and you could even tell us about other bets you've lost ;-)!
I'm afraid The holidays are taking too much time for now. A good photo shoot requires a lot of work. I now realize it'll have to wait till after New Year's Day. Look for it in early January. I promise it'll be...nice.
ReplyDeleteokay trish, we like "nice". . .
ReplyDelete;-)
Alright Pat, if you are busy...Can you convince Cat and/or Jordy to post in French Maid outfit for the time being, at least to tie us till you are ready?
ReplyDeleteIt would be nice xMas gift for the male (or female) visitors here...