Little time to relax for 'Big Easy'

By Doug Ferguson
Associated Press

Ernie Els, who won the Sony Open on Sunday, will take a week off then play in Thailand and Australia before returning to the PGA Tour. Eric Risberg • Associated Press

"I made big strides this week," Els said after winning the Sony Open in Hawai'i for the second straight year in a playoff. "It's a long, hard battle all year. I want to give it a go, see if I can contend in the majors and follow my dream and hopefully achieve it one day. I'm feeling good."

Els swept both PGA Tour events a year ago, the Mercedes Championships and the Sony Open. Everyone figured he was poised to have a big year and challenge Tiger Woods.

He went on to win seven times around the world, but he failed to win a major and lost ground to Woods.

Els had to settle for only one victory on the Islands this year, but it was memorable.

His week began on Tuesday when he played a practice round with 14-year-old Michelle Wie, who posted the best score (68) by a female competing against the men on the PGA Tour.

Wie said her practice round with Els put her at ease for the week, and her performance was remarkable. With two birdies on her final three holes, she missed the cut by one shot.

The Big Wiesy gave way to the Big Easy at the end of the week.

Els closed with a 65 and holed a do-or-die birdie putt from 10 feet on the final hole to force a playoff with Harrison Frazar. On the first extra hole, Els had to get up-and-down for par to extend the playoff. Then after blowing a great opportunity to win, he closed out the Texan with a 30-foot birdie on the third playoff hole.

He became the first repeat winner at Waialae since Corey Pavin in 1987, and the first player since Nick Faldo in the Masters (1989-90) to win the same tournament back-to-back in a playoff.

Where does it leave him?

All over the place.

Els is the most global golfer among active players. He will take a week off in Thailand before playing in the Johnnie Walker Classic, then play twice in Australia before returning to the PGA Tour, either in February or March.

When he returns, he has two players to catch.

Woods, who did not play in the Sony Open, remains No. 1 and likely will stay there at least another year.

Vijay Singh is No. 2, and his 10th consecutive finish in the top 10 at the Sony Open did nothing to suggest that was going to change.

Els, however, is conditioning his psyche to pay more attention to his own game than to what Woods is doing.

But the two might cross paths more often this year.

Woods is scheduled to play in the Dubai Desert Classic in early March, where Els is the defending champion. There also is speculation that Woods will play at the World Match Play Championship in England in the fall, where the Big Easy is defending his title and aiming for a record sixth victory.

It isn't just Woods he is chasing.

Vijay Singh has emerged as another layer for Els to get through.

The big Fijian made some bad swings and caught some bad breaks at the Sony Open, taking a double bogey in three rounds. He also made 19 birdies and two eagles.

Still, Els reminded everyone at Waialae that he is still a player who can win any week.

Wie watch

Let the invitations begin: Officials at the Booz Allen Open, a PGA event at Potomac, Md., plan to extend an invitation to Hawai'i 14-year-old Michelle Wie, according to a story in today's Baltimore Sun. The tournament is June 24-27 at TPC at Avenel.

It might be a tough sell, however, since it is the same week as the Women's Amateur Public Links Championship, which Wie is the defending champion.