Big Easy Like Monday Morning

Not even a rainy Sunday and a Monday morning finish could detour Ernie Els from cashing in on his second win in a two week stretch at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the famous Bayhill Resort and Lodge in Orlando Florida. No doubt the hottest player on Tour Els has not only grabbed the early lead for comeback player of the year but now is the overall leader in Fedex Cup points.

After storms ravaged the Orlando area on Sunday afternoon dampering the tournaments usual finish, the finial few groups were left to wrap up their back nine. Although it was still anyone’s tournament and had only a one-stroke lead with one to play, Els never really seemed to let go of his stranglehold of the field. He continued his excellent ‘Southern Swing’ play by staying in cruise control on Monday to complete a final round 71 and two shot victory over talented youngsters American Kevin Na and Italian Edoardo Molinari.

But those two were not the only strong contenders this week at Arnie’s Place. Strong Tour vets like Davis Love III, Padraig Harrington, and even Phil Mickelson all were near contention for much of the tournament. Also in contention were unexpected players like Chris Couch and DJ Trahan. But inconsistent play coupled with overly consistent good play from Els really sunk these players from contenders to pretenders. Love III was wildly inconsistent with a variable cornucopia of birdies, bogies, and doubles. Mickelson started strong on Thursday and Friday, but could not get the driver or putter going on the weekend and rapidly dropped down the board. Various struggles could be said for Harrington, Trahan and Couch.

When it was all said and done Els had about as smooth of a week in Orlando as the mechanics of his swing. He once again has found himself poised to be in serious contention at Augusta for the first time since his runner up finish to Phil Mickelson on that magical Easter Sunday in 2004. And when I say serious contention I mean serious contention. He has had nightmares with his close calls at the Masters, and this could be one of his last real chances of rectifying his Green Jacket horrors. And if he plays like his week at Bayhill, his walk up #18 could be as easy as his Monday walk.

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.