Ernie Els isn’t going to beat himself up for shooting 80 in the final round of the US Open, which cost him a chance at a third title and the number-one world ranking.
But he let the United States Golf Association (USGA) have it — not only for the way Shinnecock Hills was set up in the final round, but for comments by a top USGA official that Els gave up.
”That was out of control,” said Els, who made double bogey on the first hole and went on to his worst score to date in a US Open.
”I went from second to ninth with an 80, and that tells you how ridiculous it was.”
Tom Meeks, senior director of rules and competition for the USGA, later said that an average score of 78,72 was not ideal and his staff might have done things differently if he knew the greens were going to dry out that quickly. But he also noted winner Retief Goosen and runner-up Phil Mickelson played the best golf.
”But let me also say this,” Meeks told the Boston Globe. ”I think a lot of golfers lost their patience and gave up early in the round. I really think Ernie Els gave up after the first hole.”
The Big Easy bristled when told of the remarks on Tuesday.
”How do you give up?” Els said. ”That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in my life. I’ve never given up on any round of golf in my life. If I did give up, I would have shot 100.
”You know what? They have got no idea. They’ve lost the plot in the story. To take one of the best golf courses in this entire world and to make it a farce like that, they’ve got egg on their face.”
Goosen, who grew up with Els and played with him in the final group, had his own observations. He was asked whether Els helped him out once it was clear the Big Easy could not win.
”Not really. He was still trying hard,” Goosen said. ”I think after number 10, that’s when he really sort of gave up. I think he felt he was well out of it. He was trying to encourage me, but in general he was trying to stay away, let me do it myself.” — Sapa-AP