Ernie Els Wins Open – Adam Scott Blows It!

32 year old Australian Adam Scott who has never won a Major set off for the final round with a 4 shot lead. But in the first three holes he dropped two shots and picked up one.

At the short first he missed the green from the tee, then on the third he pulled a fairway wood into a pot bunker. Was he beginning to crack?

Playing just ahead of him Brandt Snedeker picked up a shot to move within 3 shots of the lead. Meanwhile Tiger continud with his conservative play. He seemed determined not to take the driver out of the bag and although he was hitting accurate long irons off the tee, he was struggling to set up birdie chances with his second shots. Even so he had a birdie opportunity at the third – but missed the putt.

This was the short of shot he used to rattle in when he was commanding the golf world like a regal emperor. But as the winds at Lytham reached 50mph, the thought won’t go away. Has the old Tiger been blown away?    

An added twist to the situation is that Steve Williams is carrying the bag for Adam Scott. This is the same Steve who caddied for Tiger in 13 of his 14 Major wins. They fell out after the Tiger troubles and Williams took up with Scott 12 months ago. Shortly afterwards Scott picked up a big win at the Bridgestone Invitational and Williams said it was his best win on the circuit as a caddy.

Disaster struck Tiger at the 6th when he found one of Lytham’s grasping bunkers. He finished right up by the front wall – and the ball was plugged in the sand. Surprisingly, considering his conservative approach so far, he elected to gamble and lift the ball up and over. He failed, his ball struck the face of the bunker and bounced back behind him. This time it was close to the side wall and Tiger had to get down on one knee to play it.

By now Tiger could see the Open escaping from him. He was lucky to get the ball out at the second time of asking – and he then 3 putted.

It was beginning to look as if Scott just needed to play steadily as all around him, the competition began to drop shots. 

All except for Ernie Els who steadily, quietly began to pick up shots.

On the 18th Els needed to hole 10ft birdie putt to put the pressure on Scott. He did and Scott missed the fairway with his next two tee shots and dropped a shot each time. On the 18th tee he needed a par to force a play off with Els.

But by now his nerve was broken. He found a bunker off the tee, chipped out, then hit a decent shot to the green. He had a very sinkable putt to tie with Els.

His world came crashing down as he missed it. He lost with the last shot of the Open.