AUGUSTA, Ga. – A sea of green folding lawn chairs greeted Ernie Els as he approached the 18th green Sunday. Most were empty, their owners scattered to other parts of Augusta National, perhaps grabbing a late lunch or making one last merchandise run before the leaders teed off. Or maybe the missing patrons were simply watching other players higher on the leaderboard – which, unfortunately for Els, included everybody else who made the cut. After Els hit a beautifully crafted chip, then tapped in for par, he reached down to pull his ball out of the cup for one last time here. Polite applause ensued, with a small collection of fans standing to give him a proper sendoff. They were several who recognized the moment. Els gave them a tip of the hand, managing a smile despite a frustrating weekend performance that he later described as “atrocious.” Just a year ago in the second round, Tom Watson walked up the same 18th fairway as Els just did. It was a goosebump moment, Watson and the patrons each having to fight back tears. The Masters specializes in those kind of fond farewells, especially for a two-time champion. But goodbyes often are cruel – yes, even at Augusta National and even for a world-class performer such as Els. There were few goosebump moments on Sunday. His 23rd and presumably last start at the Masters – his five-year exemption for winning the 2012 Open Championship has now expired – produced a finish he’d rather forget. After making the cut, Els shot an 11-over 83 on Saturday, the worst of his 80 rounds at Augusta National. That put him in the first group out Sunday, playing with the traditional Masters marker Jeff Knox. Els was five strokes better – he had consecutive birdies on the front nine – but the 6-over 78 certainly wasn’t satisfying. His four-day total of 20 over left him in 53rd place, last among those who reached the weekend. “I don’t really feel that emotional, I think, just because of my play,” Els said afterwards. “If I played better, I think it would’ve been a different feeling. But it was a good weekend, beautiful weather and nice to play four rounds.” While not fair, especially for a four-time major winner such as Els, perhaps it’s an appropriate way to end this relationship. After all, Els never won a Masters, never even held the lead after any of those 80 rounds he played. He did have six top-10 finishes, including solo seconds in 2000 (Vijay Singh by three shots) and 2004 (Phil Mickelson by one shot). Els had two eagles in that final round in 2004, but it seemed like the golf gods had already tapped Mickelson’s shoulder that week. How many professional golfers get the opportunity to play the Masters 23 times? And having a chance to win it a couple of times was special … I’ve won a lot of events around the world, but this one just eluded me – and that’s fine. That was the last time Els placed inside the top 10. Since then, Augusta National has not treated him kindly. It reached the cruel-and-unusual-punishment level in the first round last year when Els six-putted from 3 feet on his opening hole, saying afterward that he couldn’t even take the putter back. “It’s hard to putt when you’ve got snakes in your head,” he acknowledged. Els showed his true mettle by coming back the next day and coming back this week. He’s never backed down from a fight, even as Augusta National kept throwing knockdown punches. Such is the allure of the Masters. “How many professional golfers get the opportunity to play the Masters 23 times?” said Els, whose 23 appearances without a win falls three short of the mark shared by Gene Littler and Tom Kite. “And having a chance to win it a couple of times was special. “This tournament is just not for me. I’ve won a lot of events around the world, but this one just eluded me – and that’s fine.” Perhaps Els’ fondest memory at Augusta National came in his first appearance in 1994. He played with Ben Crenshaw and Jose Maria Olazabal that week and tied for eighth. Olzabal ended up winning, and Crenshaw won his second green jacket the next year. Els was 24 years old at the time and had just joined the PGA TOUR. What he learned from the two Masters conquerors that week might very well have prepped him for his performance two months later, when he won a playoff at Oakmont to claim the U.S. Open, the first of his four major wins. Augusta National was never willing to concede a green jacket to Els, but maybe the South African took away more than just a collection of crystal glasses. “I loved putting on these greens – and I still do, believe it or not,” Els said. “And that’s definitely the thing that helped me for Oakmont. Because Oakmont is very similar slopes, similar speed. I loved putting at Oakmont.” Officially, Els could still find his way back to Augusta National. He’d dearly love to qualify again by winning another PGA TOUR event, which would be the 20th of his career and would give him lifetime membership on TOUR. But he turns 48 in October and knows the window of opportunity may be closing. If he doesn’t get back as a competitor, Els said he could always come back as a visitor, say hello to the boys, have a couple of beers. Maybe Augusta National hasn’t seen the last of Els. Let’s hope so. It’s good to have the Big Easy around in any capacity. “It’s a place where you dream to get to once or twice,” Els said. “To do it for so long was great.”
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