Ernie's putter stutter has not doused the fire

14 January 2016 - 02:10 By Iain Carter

The irony is difficult to ignore. Jordan Spieth's latest extraordinary performance helped remind us of Ernie Els's greatness, while the popular veteran was suffering more ignominy in the South African capital. Spieth remains deadly accurate on the greens, but Els struggles to hole the most straightforward putts. It is a sad scenario, yet the 46-year-old's enduring love of this maddening game can only be admired.Back in 2003, Els shot 31 under par to win the Mercedes Championship in Hawaii. It became the benchmark for Spieth to aim at last weekend as he romped to his eight-stroke victory in the PGA Tour's Champions Tournament.The young Texan came up only a stroke shy of Els's record as he laid down an impressive marker for the coming year. Just 22, he now has seven titles to his name and more will surely be added to the list.But what does 2016 hold for the 46-year-old Els?These are tough times for the four-time Major champion, at war with demons on the greens.Els was once such an elegant putter. His poise matched the grace, tempo and power of his long game. These qualities were evident to those who watched him win the 1994 and 1997 US Opens. Els made the game look ridiculously easy.He was just 24 when he won the first of those Majors and back then, anyone suggesting he would win just three more would have been given short shrift.Regular defeats at the hands of Tiger Woods did serious damage to the South African's golfing psyche. But he still won the 2002 Open at Muirfield and then again, 10 years later, when Adam Scott imploded in the closing stages.Manfully Els has sought to embrace the demands of the new rules that outlaw the belly putter. But ditching the long putter has been a painful experience. How embarrassing it must have been to become an internet sensation when he failed to hole a "gimme" putt in last autumn's Alfred Dunhill Links championship.An unforgiving Twittersphere called it "the worst putt ever".The thought struck me: "Why is he bothering?"After all, he was about to celebrate his 42nd birthday having enjoyed a glittering career."I love the game too much," he insists. "I'm not going to stop. I'm going to get over this by using the cross-handed method and still have fun out there."Els is 194th in the world rankings. These are desperate times; the game is anything but easy and we can only wish him well.Thankfully, the competitive fires still burn as he continues to rediscover the secrets of former glories. BBC Sport..

There’s never been a more important time to support independent media.

From World War 1 to present-day cosmopolitan South Africa and beyond, the Sunday Times has been a pillar in covering the stories that matter to you.

For just R80 you can become a premium member (digital access) and support a publication that has played an important political and social role in South Africa for over a century of Sundays. You can cancel anytime.

Already subscribed? Sign in below.



Questions or problems? Email helpdesk@timeslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00.