Easy Come, Easy Go, Easy Comeback

It seemed to be an immediate disappearing act for one of the most respected and better players over the past decade. South African great Ernie Els, or The Big Easy as many refer to him, has climbed the top of the mountain in his career, but after a rash of freak and nagging injuries he seemed to have faded away into almost obscurity. But this week at the CA Championship his comeback has seemed to come almost full circle, with a near perfect and dominating performance taming the Blue Monster at Doral.

The CA Championship is one of the premier events behind the majors and the Player’s Championship. It is the second installment of the World Golf Championships and is one of the strongest fields you’re going to find. There were a lot of solid performers in the mix, but as the final round started and Sunday play progressed, it was almost like a two horse South African race. Els was the wily veteran, and Charl Schwartzel was the young up and coming bomber. The two battled it out throughout the front nine, but the veteran made the shots when he needed to, and the youngster was not able to keep up in his first real chance to shine in the US.

Although Els had a victory at the 2008 Honda Classic, this win confirms his comeback on the PGA Tour. It not like he completely disappeared, but his descent into mere mediocrity started after the completion of the 2004 season. In ‘04 he won a personal record three PGA events cashing in at the Sony, the Memorial, and WGC American Express. He also had a personal best season in the majors finishing in the top ten in all four of the season’s majors, although failing to win any. He was heartbroken at the Master’s falling short on Lefty’s magical 72nd hole birdie. He also came up short in a playoff to Todd Hamilton in the Open Championship. On top of even that he had a disastrous final round on Long Island in the US Open going from the final pairing to a 9th place finish behind fellow countryman Reteif Goosen. But in the off-season after the ’04 season Els injured his knee in a freak tubing incident on the Mediterranean derailing his game for a near 4-year stretch.

But this dominating performance at the intimidating Blue Monster may have set the stage for something even more special. In about a month Els will return to Augusta, a place where he has been very close in the past and tee it up again to try and exercise those Master’s demons. To try and repair all of those heartbreaks at a place he has never won. I feel like everything would come full circle for the 40 year old Els in 2010 if he can finally slip on that green jacket and close to within a PGA Championship of a career-slam. I don’t think it is ‘easy,’ but Els makes it seem that way.