Improbable Win for Els at British Open

Ernie Els (-7) collected his fourth career major golf championship on Sunday by winning The British Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St. Annes in shocking fashion.

Most thought it was over after Australia’s Adam Scott birdied on 14. At the time, Scott held a four-shot lead, with four holes to play, and showed no signs of letting up. He had been in complete control of his golf game throughout the week.

In addition, nobody was mounting any sort of comeback. The field was crumbling behind him.

On the ESPN broadcast, Paul Azinger said, “Adam Scott has one hand on the Claret Jug.”

Rex Hoggard of The Golf Channel tweeted: “Go ahead and start engraving. It’s S-C-O-T-T.”

Even the person responsible for engraving the trophy had already begun the process of engraving Scott’s name.

But just when everyone thought it was over, the stress and pressure of The Open Championship turned the golf world upside down.

It started with Scott finding a fairway bunker on the par 4, 15th hole. With a four-shot lead and nobody chasing him, Scott took his medicine and made bogey. Down to three.

Then he missed a short putt on 16, resulting in a three-putt bogey. Down to two.

As the Aussie was plotting his approach into the 17th green, Ernie Els buried a 20-footer on the 18th in dramatic fashion. All of a sudden, Els made four birdies on the back nine, posting a 32, and staying just close enough to keep the pressure on Scott. He was in the clubhouse at -7. Lead down to one.

On 17, Scott hit his approach long and left of the green. His pitch shot traveled well past the hole, and he was unable to make his putt for par. Tie game.

In just a matter of minutes, the lead was gone. After making three bogies in a row, Scott was standing on 18 needing a par to advance to a playoff with Els.

He had hit his driver better than anyone in the field, all week long, but Scott was clearly rattled. He pulled his tee shot into a treacherous bunker. The Aussie had no choice but to pitch out and try to make par the hard way—but it wasn’t to be.

Scott’s par putt skirted just by the left side of the hole. He sank to his knees and you could feel his anguish. He finished with four consecutive bogies. It was over.

A shocked Els hoisted the Claret Jug a bit sheepishly at the trophy presentation. “I feel bad for my buddy Adam Scott,” said Els. “You’re going to win many of these. You’ve got too much talent.”

Golf can be cruel sometimes. Earlier this season, Kyle Stanley held a six-shot lead at Torrey Pines heading into the final day. His lead was still at three on 18 but he ended up with a triple bogey (eight) and losing in a playoff to Brandt Snedeker.

The very next week, Stanley won the Phoenix Open and all was forgotten.

Golf fans around the world can only hope the game will eventually reward Adam Scott after such a devastating loss.

Now, though, we understand that nothing in golf is certain.

Joe Fries is a sports writer and golf pro living in Miami Beach, Fla. You can follow him on Twitter @The7thFreezer.

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