Golf Update: The Real Ernie Else is Back and Tiger Won’t Be Back Before the Masters

Before getting into how terrific Ernie Els played this past week in the WGC-CA Championship, we need to say a few words regarding the man that everybody is wondering about, Tiger Woods.  El Tigre supposedly won’t be back before the Masters. 

That’s a good three weeks as the Masters tees-off on April 8th.  Among those stating that Tiger should return is none other than the number 2 ranked player in the world, Steve Stricker.

Does it matter?  Yes, it does.  The Tour needs Tiger Woods.  Tiger, if anything, will drum up interest in golf which has become somewhat boring to certain fans without the world’s best player staring down the competition. 

Tiger obviously is treading carefully in regards to his return.  He doesn’t want to offend anybody yet he’s probably dying to get back into something other than trying to reinvent himself every freaking week.

What’s great about Tiger returning for the Masters is the fact that he no doubt will be the favorite to win it even though he will have not have played competitively since late October of 2009.  What a bet against Woods will be should he return to tee-off at Augusta!

Ernie is Back and Phil and Stricker Do Their Thing

Ernie Els, who used to be ranked in the Top 5 in the World Golf Rankings, made a huge return to the upper echelon this week after winning the WGC-CA.  Els shot an 18 under to easily beat fellow South African Charl Schwartzel  by 4 strokes.  Els pretty much went wire to wire in the WGC-CA.  

Els’ victory was bound to happen.  He had already posted two Top 10 and two Top 20 finishes in 5 tournaments before last week’s WGC-CA.  With Els playing so well, El Tigre is going to find the competition to be even stiffer once he returns.

This is particularly true because both Steve Stricker, who was knocked out of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Tournament after the 1st Round, and Phil Mickelson, who had recorded only one Top 10 finish so far this year, played well in the WGC-CA.  Stricker shot a 7 under to finish tied for 16th.  Mickelson shot an 8 under to finish tied for 14th. 

Not Top 10 finishes, but considering that Stricker and Lefty, Phil had finished 24th in the Phoenix Open in his last tournament, improved from their previous foray onto the links, the WGC-CA was a success for both of them.

Padraig Harington also signaled to the golfing world that he had his swing in order.  Paddy shot a -11 277 to finish tied for third in the WGC-CA.

New Generation Steps it up Except for McIlroy

Except for Rory McIlroy the new generation of golfers stepped it up.  31 year old Matt Kuchar finished in 3rd place at -11.  25 year old Martin Kaymer from Germany finished at -11 as well.  Paul Casey finished tied for 6th at -10.  Camilo Villegas finished tied for 16th at -7 and Anthony Kim finished tied for 22nd at -5.

Rory McIlroy, however, had another horrible outing.  The European Tour’s #2 ranked golfer in 2009 didn’t do so hot at TPC Blue Monster recording a 295 +7.  If McIlroy’s back is still hurting him, then he should sit out tournaments until it’s fully healed.  If it isn’t the back, then what is it?