Posted on: Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Something's up if there's a run on South African wine

By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

The wind kicking up at normally placid Waialae Country Club isn't the only thing that should make PGA Tour players nervous this week at the Sony Open in Hawai'i.

History tells us there are any number of concerns for the players in this first full-field event of the Tour season. On the list of things to be wary of, here are a few of the perhaps lesser known but by no means insignificant situations to keep an eye out for.

Definitely beware:

1. If Darren Yasui, the restaurant manager, sees the need to ice down a stock of Windhoek lager.

The brew, from the golfer's native South Africa, is a favorite of Ernie Els, who particularly enjoys tilting one back after a good round. With back-to-back titles, he has had a lot of good rounds to toast at Waialae.

2. Should someone, as Craig Barlow did last year, say "I didn't know Tiger (Woods) was here," even though everybody in the place knows Woods is winging his way back to Florida.

It will mean that Michelle Wie, a 15-year-old pied piper, is playing well enough to grab the galleries again.

3. If there is an early run on Engelbrecht Stellenbosch.

The wine, a blend of predominately cabernet and merlot grapes, is produced by Els' estate in South Africa. When he's playing well at Waialae, the members — and anybody else who can get hold of it — line up to have Els autograph the bottles. In 2003, when Els won his first Sony Open, the supply reportedly sold out in five minutes.

Connoisseurs say the wine is a lot like its owner's game — smooth with a solid finish.

4. Of gallery "hazards" on the 17th hole. Particularly during the final round.

Somebody took a $288,000 phone call in the final round of the 2002 Sony Open. That was the difference in prize money between winner Jerry Kelly's check and runner-up John Cook's winnings. A prohibited phone in the gallery rang in the middle of Cook's backswing on the 17th hole, causing Cook, who bogeyed the hole, to let out an anguished scream.

Kelly suggested: "Skinning him (the spectator)."

Then, in the 2003 final round duel with Els, Aaron Baddeley had to back off a three-foot putt when a door on a portable toilet slammed loudly near the hole.

Baddeley went through his routine again but missed the putt and lost in a playoff.

5. Waitresses bringing gifts.

After Mauna Kea Resort teaching pro Kevin Hayashi needed three more strokes than playing partner Wie to complete last year's first round, he found a pie waiting for him at lunch the next day.

The waitress told him, "This is from Michelle Wie... 'Thank you for letting me beat you.' "

Turns out it was really courtesy of David Ishii, who wanted to get in a friendly little dig. But with 47 others in the 148-player field finishing behind Wie, a lot of pies could have been awarded.

6. Els shows up for the final round in contention and wearing his lime-green SAP shirt.

Els says he has only one such shirt in his wardrobe, but it must be a lucky one, because he's worn it the final day of both the 2003 and '04 tournament wins.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.