Shadow chasing
Tiger Woods' game isn't what it was and Ernie Els has a shot to be No. 1
By KEN FIDLIN -- Toronto Sun
On a Tuesday afternoon two years ago at Muirfield, Ernie Els uttered a sigh of resignation and then launched into yet another explanation of Tiger Woods' invincibility.
At the time, Woods was not only the best golfer in the world but he was off on a planet of his own, far removed from the scrabbling crowd.
At the head of that pack in pursuit, Els was feeling the frustration that comes of futility.
"Sometimes it just seems as if we're all playing for second place," Els said. "I know that my best isn't equal to his best and he's so often at his best."
Woods had won the Masters and the United States Open that year and arrived at Muirfield with a legitimate shot at a true Grand Slam. As fate would have it, Woods came unglued during a nasty third-round rain squall and fell out of contention at the British Open.
The next day, Els won a four-man playoff for the Claret Jug. Nobody knew it at the time but they had just witnessed the end, or at least an interruption, of Woods' overwhelming dominance.
Now it's another Tuesday two years on at Troon and Els was trying again to put it all into perspective.
"You know, in the middle of the Tiger run, whenever he teed it up, I felt that he was going to shoot a 67 or something better. That's how good he was playing.
"And at the end of the week, that added up to 20-under-par. He did that quite a few times in major championships. To do that on tough golf courses where we played, that's difficult to really think about, but he just kept grinding away like that at the height of that streak.
"It was difficult, for not only myself but for other players, to really believe that you could go out there and play your game and think it was going to be good enough, you know?"
"But right now, it's different. I feel that when he plays well, he's going to shoot 67. But if I play well I can shoot that score as well and I can keep doing that for three or four days. I think a lot of players are feeling that way. We're more on a level playing field now and that's because Tiger has come back to the field a little bit."
Woods still clings to his world No. 1 ranking even though he hasn't won a stroke-play tournament since last fall. He is still clearly a powerful force in the world of golf but he is again in danger of being passed by Els.
The potential existed at the U.S. Open last month for Els to assume the title that Woods has held since August 1999.
Els was in a great position going into the final round at Shinnecock but blew up to an 80, dropping to ninth from second.
Els was one of many who were incensed by the USGA setup that led to almost unplayable conditions in the final round.
In an interview with the Boston Globe, the USGA official in charge, Tom Meeks, suggested afterward that Els had "given up."
"That is the most ridiculous thing I've heard in my life," Els said yesterday. "I've never given up in my life. If I had given up, I would have shot 100.
"To take one of the best golf courses in the entire world and to make it a farce like that, I mean, they've got egg on their face, is all I can say."
And now, once again, Els has a chance to snatch Woods' crown away. If Els was to win his second British Open in combination with a 17th-place (or worse) finish by Woods, Ernie would be No. 1.
"It's nice when that question comes around, because it means you're doing something good," Els said. "Four or five years ago, that question wasn't out there because Tiger was in another league. Where Tiger was and where he is now, well, we're in different worlds. A lot of players feel they can compete with him now at the highest level. He's still playing great golf. He still finishes top 10, top five. He's not far off."
But he's no longer invincible, no longer the intimidating force before which all opposition melted. His game is leaking just enough oil to put his No. 1 status in jeopardy.
"To win majors is more important for me, for my career," Els said. "If No. 1 comes around, that would be great. To be No. 1 in this day and age with all these great players would be quite something."
