Capelle On Golf

Two months into the 2008 season and things are heating up. Tiger Woods is two for two on the PGA Tour, which is no surprise. But what is surprising are the performances of the Old Guard who many have all but left for dead. Second man Phil Mickelson scored an impressive win at Riviera and lost a playoff at the FBR. Vijay Singh showed signs of life at the ATT Pebble Beach. He birdied the last hole to get into a playoff after bogeying 14-16 before losing to Steve Lowery. Then he stormed into the quarterfinals of the Accenture Match Play, his best showing yet in this event. That brings us to Ernie Els. Here’s what I had to say about him on Friday:

The experts are down on the Big Easy with good reason thanks to his lackluster play this year. If he doesn’t turnaround his game soon, it could spell the beginning of the end for one of the three best players of the Woods Era. One big point in his favor: elite players like Els are capable of recovering the magic at any time. As examples, Els came close at the British Open (4t) and the PGA (3) in 2007.

Many, including myself, have been wondering about his game and state of mind recently. Still, it’s been hard to dismiss a man with his record and potential at the not-so-old age of 38. As if in response to the doubters doubts, Els went out and shot the day’s low of 67 in the final round (tied by two others) . He even managed to play the ultra tough Bear Trap (holes 15-17) in even par for the week. He ended a four year winless drought on the PGA Tour at the PGA National’s Champion course, a chokers paradise, and sent packing some of the goblins that have haunted him of late. Finally, he took his rightful place in the WGR, vaulting past Steve Stricker into third place. How’s this for a “leaderboard?”

1. Tiger Woods 20.88
2. Phil Mickelson 10.18
3. Ernie Els 6.90
4. Steve Stricker 6.66
5. Adam Scott 5.83

Woods is playing like Woods as suspected. But now the Old Guard is playing like the triple major winners they are. If their play carries into majors season, Tiger’s path to the Grand Slam may have a few potholes along the way.