World number two Ernie Els and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn have finally rid themselves of the golfing demons that threatened to derail their careers.
Els did it by winning the seven-million-dollar WGC American Express Championship on Sunday.
Bjorn did it by coming second — a finish he did not think possible three months ago when he quit in the middle of the opening round of the European Open at the K Club in Ireland, his game in tatters and his mind in turmoil.
Two weeks ago Els’ mind was also in turmoil. His golf game was great but he wasn’t winning.
The 34-year-old South African has become obsessed with winning Majors and this year he looked as if he might do the impossible and win all four.
But Phil Mickelson delivered a killer blow at the Masters — depriving Els of his first Green jacket with a birdie on the 72nd green.
At the US Open Els was poised to win on Sunday until he collapsed in the final round.
Unheralded Todd Hamilton beat him in a playoff at Troon in the Open. And Els again lost out at the PGA Championhsip.
All the last gasp defeats had sent Els into depression — his self-confidence shattered.
But a two-week break before arriving at Mount Juliet saw an upbeat Els, raring to go.
He insisted he had put the disappointment and bitterness behind him. He was now looking forward and not back.
But when he won the American Express Champion by a single shot from Bjorn after the two had been locked in a dramatic two-man shootout on the Sunday, Els admitted the win had been vital for him — and his confidence.
”I think I had more pressure than anyone in the field. Everyone knows what I have been through this summer. I wanted to draw a line and make the switch. I needed to make the switch. I had to go do it myself and I did it,” said a clearly relieved Els.
”I’ve got to take a huge positive from here. All in all, very rewarding,” he added.
For Bjorn, a close friend and next-door neighbour to Els in London, suddenly his golf life was back on track after the despair of July, when he quit the game for five weeks to see what he could to salvage his career.
His near-flawless performance has restored his self-confidence and has him ready to take on anybody.
”I had those five weeks and I spent a long time thinking about what I wanted to do with my golf and this is a massive step in the right direction,” said Bjorn on his performance in Ireland.
”I’m not looking to the past because this is a sign for me that, yeah, I can play with the big boys again.
”I came up one shot short of Ernie but I came up a long way ahead of everybody else. That was a big leaderboard. I’m proud of what I did this week. I’ve come a long way,” said the Dane. – Sapa-AFP