The most awkward interview in golf

Posted on: 19 March, 2012

Pictures

What is worse than taking an interview after you have just blown a tournament lead? Taking an interview with bad questions, which is exactly what happened to Ernie Els after his bogey-bogey finish cost him the Transitions Championship.

Els’ putting demons have been around for the better part of the last two years, but never has it so obviously cost the Big Easy so much.

He was a shot ahead with two holes to play and proceeded to not only lose his lead, but also miss out on the playoff after bogeying both of the last two holes.

Cue Steve Sands, the Golf Channel’s man on the ground, who grabbed Els for a post-round interview, which the South African graciously accepted, but Ernie was quite clearly out of sorts.

As soon as the editor cut to Sands standing with Els you could tell this interview was a bad idea. If you concentrated hard enough you could see the steam coming out of Els’ ears.

The Els-Sands interview

And Sands didn’t make things any easier for the Big Easy, this is how the interview went:

Sands: Very disappointed, Ernie Els; what happened after that drive on the 18th hole?
Els: (Angry pause)What happened? Well, I pulled my second left and I chipped it up there. Didn't have a great lie on my third shot and I pulled my putt.

Sands: Did you have the confidence to make that putt before there?
Els: (laughing, not in a nice way) Yeah, I guess so. I just pulled it a bit.

You can see a video of the incident here: http://deadspin.com/5894380/ernie-els-interview-was-equal-parts-short-and-painfully-awkward

Firstly, how is Ernie supposed to answer ‘what happened’? Everyone saw what happened, he played a rubbish second shot and pulled his putt.

Secondly, questioning a player’s confidence after he has just missed a four-foot putt for his participation in the Masters is incredibly harsh.

Reaction on Twitter

The reaction on Twitter was instantaneous and incredibly negative towards Sands, which shows both how popular Els still is in the golf world, and how inappropriate the interview was.

That being said it was a shocking putt, and every one of those that Els misses is just going to make the next one harder.

What the bogeys cost Els

Since the beginning of the year Els has been trying to play his way into the Masters field, and prior to the Transitions Championship he was ranked 68th on the Official World Golf Ranking – the top 50 and 2012 PGA Tour winners all receive automatic invites.

Winning the Transitions Championship would have got him back into the top 50 and earned him a spot in the Masters. Instead, two bogeys later, all he got was six places up to 62nd.

And, even though he almost certainly doesn’t need the money, he lost out on $796 812.50.

What is next for Els

It’s not all doom and gloom for Ernie, although the pressure is only going to get more intense the closer he gets to the Masters, he still has two more chances to qualify in the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Shell Houston Open.

And by his own admission he is playing quite well at the moment.

"If I take stock, I think I'm playing good golf, and I've got to head into the next couple of weeks trying to get a win."

What do you think of Ernie’s chances of qualifying for the Masters?

http://www.mygreenjacket.com/ MyGreenJacket

Am SO gutted for Ernie. We all know what it must feel like to miss those putts, especially when everyone else is banging them in from 10 ft. Interview made you want to cry. Never seen Ernie like that – clearly in shock. I think the whole world will want to see him snatch a win in the next two weeks, but my head says he’ll need a miracle to find the necessary putting confidence now.

http://www.ramsaymedia.co.za/ RamsayMedia Admin

Every putt he has inside 10 feet from now is going to get so heavily scrutinized, the pressure is going to be immense for him.

James

Unfortunately Ernie appears to have the beginning stages of the yips. Having experienced this myself, it is not something I would wish on my worst enemy. The brain and the body do not co-operate and you are left standing there humiliated and frustrated. I think Ernie needs to consider splitting his hands, a la Garcia- he needs to try and neutralise the effect that his right hand is having on his putting action. Good luck Ernie-you are a great player!!

great person
WG

The broadcast companies should in future try and not employ morons to do the interviews as was the case with the attempted interview with Ernie.
Johan

Except for the a few putts it was the best he has putted in a long time, coming from the back to take the lead shows the class of the man. Given time he will be back, just like Tiger, the saying goes, you can’t keep a good man down. Confidence they say is lost by the yard and gained by the inch. The rest of his game is very good, big drives and accurate irons, short game as good as it gets, so only one piece of the puzzle missing, albeit a very important piece. He will make it to the masters.

http://www.ramsaymedia.co.za/ RamsayMedia Admin

It is true that generally his putting was very good. His misses were heavily scrutinised though, and the pressure on him if he needs a 7 footer to win next week will be huge.

Baxter

It is a pity that it came down to the putt on the 18th. Looking back, the missed birdie on 11th was telling. I really believe there is too much put into the art of putting. Most golfers spend way too much time looking at a putt and more so if they are not confident. They still end up missing. So, just look at it from the back, seek out the target and make a stroke and your percentaged will improve. Ernie can do it!
Keith

Keep it up Ernie, Sands is for Americans he would not have done that to Tiger.
You will be in the Masters. Just Do It and show them.
carrim

ERNIE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.HE CRACKS ALWAYS AND HAS DONE IT SO MANY TIMES.HE IS FINISHED.THE SOUTH AFRICANS DONT HAVE THE KILLER INSTINCT LIKE TODAYS TOP GOLFERS.

http://www.ramsaymedia.co.za/ RamsayMedia Admin

That is quite a vast generalisation, especially if you consider the manner in which Charl Schwartzel won the Masters last year.
Chewylbh

Carrim, what do u mean South Africans don’t have the killer instinct. In the last 12 years we have won 6 of the majors and are only 2nd to the US on those stats. No body else comes close
Tokoloshe

I suppose to have a killer instinct there have to be virgins around
James

Carrim you are a bloody “DOOS” You must know Jack Shit about Golf !!!

Rob Ellis

Carrim you are a moron and obviously know nothing about golf. South Africa has produced one of the highest levels of golf winners in proportion to their golfing population.Have you watched any of Tigers meltdowns recently ?? Oh sorry his leg is sore!!!
Rob.
Derek

Carrim,,how many Majors has Ernie won.South African golfers dont have the killer instinct,,you got to be joking.Look at how many majors the South Africa golfers have won over the last 10 years.
As for that TV guy MR SANDS,what a bloody fool,how the hell can he ask a question like that,,,did you think you where going to make that putt on 18.What did he think Ernie was going to say,NO why should i have made it,What a jerk
Roelf van der Merwe

Retief started the last day with the lead and threw it away. Ernie got the lead at the end and unfortunately he missed those putts. I feel so sorry for these guys. I just really really hope that he makes it to the Masters. Isnt there a invite or something that Ernie can get? It wont be the same without him
David

David

Can Ernie still get into the Masters without winning in the next couple of weeks? ie 2 top 5 finishes, perhaps?

http://www.ramsaymedia.co.za/ RamsayMedia Admin

It’s difficult to say because it depends what the other players around him on the World Ranking do as well, but two top five’s could be enough.

Greenpages

I think that Carrim is getting ahead of himself – sure Ernie has had a few problems but that is because he has put himself in contention in the first place! Someone said that form is temporary and class is permanent so let’s hope Ernie gets a break (or 2!) in the next couple of weeks to ensure that he is at the Masters. The other thing about this event is that are we seeing another Tom Kite emerging in Luke Donald? You might remember Tom Kite who won all that cash and Tour titles in the 80′s and part of the 90′s but only won one Major!?
Barry

Not only the two putts but also not getting up and down on the two par fives on the back nine . It is amazing how Ernie can drag the emotions of the whole of SA with him. I felt as gut wrenched as Ernie looked in the interview. Maybe the broomstick putter is worth a try. Saved Bernhard Langer and others.
Golfeus

Only 26 golfers have won more majors than Ernie – ever! He is one the game’s all time greats, and a great bloke at the same time. I believe his putting will return, and when it does, he’ll start missing greens(!) – it’s a tricky game. Any number of golfers have suffered worse spells, and come back, Ernie will too, because he’s too good not to.

Golfeus

Correction – now only 18 golfers have won more majors than Ernie!