By Rahul Banerji
The Big Easy is on one final jaunt through Asia. Ernie Els wants a last fling alongside PGA Tour regulars before turning to the PGA Tour Champions when he turns 50 next year.
Els heads to Malaysia first for next week’s CIMB Classic and then South Korea for the CJ Cup @Nine Bridges.
Ernie Els also has an interesting India connection. He was last here in 2008 to play what was then the Emaar-MGF Indian Open, during which he took a clinic for upcoming youngsters.
At the event was a 10-year-old Shubhankar Sharma, who said Els had greatly encouraged him. Let us take up the story in his own words.
“He (Els) put the ball on the tee for me at the Delhi Golf Course range and I hit two great shots right near the 100-yard board and he was really happy,” Sharma recalled.
“He said you are going to be a great player one day and just keep practising. And for a kid like me who was only 10 at that time it made my day, I was so happy that I couldn’t sleep that night”
“I met Ernie after that in Abu Dhabi recently and I told him about the story and he was really happy that I have progressed so well.”
Following young talent
As the new International Team captain for the Presidents Cup next year, Els, a 19-time PGA Tour winner is also keen to follow the progress of some of the new talents who are in the shortlist.
Many of them will compete in the same tournaments over the next fortnight.
Els will be the $7 million CIMB Classic at TPC Kuala Lumpur next week for the fifth time. Next up is a maiden appearance at the $9.5 million event from October 18 to 21 on Jeju island.
He said: “Honestly, it’s been one of my greatest pleasures, as a player and golf course designer, to have been able to travel extensively around the world and obviously all around Asia.
“It’s one of the reasons I’m very proud of my role as an ambassador and honorary member of the Asian Tour. It’s a special relationship for me.”
A recent T3 finish at the Fiji International has provided Els with the impetus to begin his 2018-19 PGA Tour Season strongly.
The smooth-swinging South African, who also has 47 international career wins feels he can produce some good golf before switching to the Champions Tour.
Over the hump
“It’s been a frustrating few years, not getting the results I’d have liked. It’s been pretty depressing at times.
“But my game’s been in much better shape than the scores suggest. I feel physically fit, healthy, and still have the desire to compete. I don’t want to make any predictions.
“This will probably be my last full season on the PGA Tour before the Champions, so obviously there’s big motivation to play some good golf, but I also want to try to enjoy it,” said the World Golf Hall of Fame member.
Leading Asian players such as Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, Shubhankar Sharma, Chinese Taipei’s C.T. Pan, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, Korea’s Byeonghun An and Si Woo Kim will feature in KL and JEJU Island.
Els will be watching their progress closely in view of his role as captain for the Presidents Cup which takes place in Melbourne, Australia, in December next year.
“That’s one of the fringe benefits, so to speak, of me coming to Asia and playing these events. Obviously, I know some of the guys already.
“There’s a way to go yet before we make any decisions, but it’s a building process. This is an opportunity for me to talk to people and see for myself some of the new up-and-coming talent. I love that.
“It’s one of the nicer aspects of this new job of mine!” said Els.
‘Good to see Tiger back’
He was delighted to see Tiger Woods, his opposing captain for the Presidents Cup, return to the winner’s circle.
“I’m not that surprised. He’s young enough and when he came back you could see he had that attitude, ‘I want to compete and win tournaments’.
“It didn’t happen straight away, but that’s to be expected. When you’ve been out of the game through injury, it takes a while to get comfortable again, to get things flowing again.
“I’ve been there myself; I know what that feels like. It’s got to be good for golf to have Tiger back winning again. I mean, you could see how excited the fans were at East Lake. They were crazy scenes!
“He’s swinging it well, he’s clearly still got the desire and the passion. If you have that, you can compete well into your 40s.”
Also read: Shubhankar Sharma opts in for Melbourne World Cup of Golf
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The great big man with an amiable smile, who makes golf swing look nice and easy.