| 7 September 2009 |
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 comments: 28
With Retief Goosen about to enter the final round of the Deutsche Bank Championship tied for the lead, the Mole’s been doing some thinking and reckons that, although there’s not much competition, right now the Goose has to be the best South African golfer. Agree? Disagree?
The history books have been pretty clear about the country’s top golfer for a while now. Way back in the day there was Gary Player. Then there was Ernie, who proudly flew the South African flag high for around 15 years, even though the Goose nicked a pair of US Opens during the time.
But today the waters are a bit murky – Trevor Immelman got us excited for a while last year after he won the green jacket, while other hopefuls, Richard Sterne, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen are also hoping to take over the reins but haven’t quite made that leap.
Goosen is ranked 10th on the world moneylist, earning just over $3 million this year after one win and four top-10 finishes, including a tied-fifth in the British Open. Ernie, on the other hand, seems to have been going backwards. Yes, he may have cracked a tied-sixth finish in the PGA, but then he goes and misses the cut this weekend to continue his slide down the moneylist where he’s sitting at 28th. Meanwhile Rory Sabbatini – who also missed the cut this weekend – is 21st on the moneylist.
Retief’s fine form is a great improvement from the last few years, when some swing changes led to a string of poor results and many in the SA public writing him off, but a return to his old Yes! putter and a new fitness regime have helped the 40-year-old get back to the top end of the leaderboard. With other Saffers succumbing to the pressure of the big leagues – think Schwartzel and Thomas Aiken who at early stages of this weekend’s European Masters looked very promising – South African golf fans are desperately hoping for Retief to seal the deal in tonight’s final round. Here’s hoping….
Reader comments: (28)
•Tim Clark
He's the most consistant South African golfer, always up there with the best.
posted by: Josephine Elves on 2009/10/15
•Under Rated
Tim Clark is the most under rated golfer of S A but is still bringing the dough home.When looking at stats like "greens hit" "putting" etc.Man he is making the "money" mr MOLE
posted by: Andr'e Koster G C on 2009/09/26
•TAKE THE GAP GOOSE
LOOKING TO THE WORLD MONET RANKINGS YES THE GOOSE LEAD IN SA. IF HE CAN JUST GET A WIN TONIGHT OR BEFORE DEC 2009 THAN I WILL PUT MY MONEY ON HIM FOR THE MILLION DOLLAR
posted by: JACOBUS STEENKAMP KURUMAN GOLF CLUB NORTHERN CAPE on 2009/09/09
•Reteif Goosen
Unfortunately The Goose seems to be our best player but our biggest choker right now
posted by: Sandy Young on 2009/09/08
•THAT WEEK..
The top golfers all get a week when everything falls in place, even good breaks. Then everybody in the world admire their skills. They are all very good.
posted by: Vic on 2009/09/08
•Ernie is still the one.
Ernies is still the best S African golfer of his generation.Retief is the most consistent. Richard Sterne was going to be the best of his generation but I don't think he is hungry enough.
posted by: Phala on 2009/09/08
•Killing instinct
Our golfers need that final day killing instinct - THEY DO NOT HAVE IT
posted by: Golf Mad on 2009/09/08
•Confidence
Goose has to be the best bet to put in a top 10. He just does not have the confidence to close the deal. His final round scoring average is proof! But he has to be our best golfer this year. Tim has also come even closer to that first PGA tour win, but stumbled yet again. I still think that Ernie is on the right track with Harmon and is swinging it like he used to when he was at his best. He'll work on his putting thru Dec in Herold's Bay and will win the Masters next year. You heard it first here!!
posted by: Smiley on 2009/09/08
•Can't Compare
Compare where Ernie is and where Phil Mickelson is?? Their carrers have pretty much run along the same lines. Big difference is the flat stick on the course. Off the course it's family issues. Ernie has been through a lot and this is a huge factor. Phil is going through it now. We know how this affected Ernie, let's see how Phil handles it.Ernie will always be SA's best modern era golfer. I think he is due a good year in 2010.
posted by: Deon on 2009/09/08
•Retiefs next smile will be his first!
Retief needs a personaility..........heis like watching paint dry!
posted by: GB on 2009/09/08
•About turn
Just the other day the mole was saying that Retief was having a very bad year now he is possibly our greatest golfer?
posted by: Timmy on 2009/09/08
•THEY ARE ALL FADERS
HOW OFTEN DO OUR GOLFERS LEAD OVER THE FIRST ROUND OR TWO ONLY TO FADE AWAY.THE KING
posted by: THE KINK on 2009/09/08
•dovetail
They are all the best. They used to dovetail so perfectly!
posted by: Matt on 2009/09/07
•ERNIE BY FAR
I THINK ELS IS STILL THE BEST PLAYER IN THE WORLD WATCH AS HE MATURES
posted by: FRED on 2009/09/07
•Post Jock
If you were the best why aren`t you on top of the world ranking dreamer!!!!
posted by: ME on 2009/09/07
•The Big Lazy
Ernie has turned into the big lazy and is now a has been...
posted by: Joe on 2009/09/07
•Lets wait and see
On a given day Ernie and Retief are still SA,s best, lets see at the end of the Season,who,s the best SA golfer in the World rankings, on current form, it has to be Retief,GOOD LUCK TODAY YOU CAN DO IT!!!!!!!.
posted by: Woodge on 2009/09/07
•No serious contenders worldwide.
Bobby Locke and Gary Player were exceptional while Ernie has been great over many years. Retief has two majors and a great European Tour record. None of the "young turks" seems to be stepping up to the mark on a consistent basis. But then that seems to apply to all the pretenders from all countries.
posted by: Rod on 2009/09/07
•Ernie 's the man
Ernie 's the man but he doesn't know it..He will have to sort out his putter quicker than Tiger and then watch out....
posted by: Petros on 2009/09/07
•Ernie 's the man
Ernie 's the man but he doesn't know it..He will have to sort out his putter quicker than Tiger and then watch out....
posted by: Petros on 2009/09/07
•Wake Up
Ernie is a has been but can win any tournament if his on top of his game,but Retief has been living in Ernie`s shadow for a long time.Give the man some credit.Tim will never be as good.Lets face it.
posted by: AJ on 2009/09/07
•Our great golfers are fading
I'm a huge Ernie fan but every week i lose a little more faith that he can make a comeback. There is no S.A golfer consistently good enough to challenge the top 5 golfers in the world right now.
posted by: Ryan on 2009/09/07
•The Goose for sure
Consistent, hard-working, a really great role-model
posted by: Carl on 2009/09/07
•winning might help
Tim might be good but i think you need to win something to be great.
posted by: arb on 2009/09/07
•Is Tim Clark not a Saffer anymore?
Tim Clark is the 3rd ranked SA player. Why does Compleat Golfer always seem to omit him????
posted by: Tim Clark fan on 2009/09/07
•I am
I am the best golfer in South Africa
posted by: Golf Jock on 2009/09/07
•I hope so Frikkie
Hey Frikkie, I hope so. He's hitting the big 'four oh' soon - wouldn't it be great for him to do a Vijay-like surge in his 40s!?
posted by: The Mole on 2009/09/07
•Ernie's still the best
No way Mole. Ernie will be back, and sooner than you think!
posted by: Frikkie on 2009/09/07
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