The magic wand of Ernie Els

There’s nothing blue about this man’s rhythm. If it comes down to giving it a colour, I’ll go with a pastel shade. Soothing. Maybe something on the green side of the spectrum.

Think of the colour chart and a blob called pistachio green... you get the picture, don’t you. Alfred Dunhill Cup 1999. India comes up against South Africa in one of the earlier rounds, and who does Jeev Milkha Singh pull out of the hat? A big blond called Ernie Els. India’s best in a oneon-one with one of the game’s best, in a place like the Old Course, St Andrews, and I among the witnesses. My memory fails me but I must have done something right at some point in time.

Whoever came up with the alias Big Easy got it spot on. Els does make golf look easy. There are some golf swings you just can’t tire of watching and this South African possesses one of those eminently watchable swings. You would be hard pressed to tear your eyes off him even if he was working up a sweat on the practice range. If you do find yourself in such a situation, a steady supply of popcorn and drink will go very well with the show.

Watching him play for about four hours, from close enough to sniff his aftershave, was an absolute treat. And don’t get me wrong here—it’s just the golf I’m talking about. There was a certain easiness with which he hit his first drive a long way down the fairway, and in the way he rolled in his last putt to get past Jeev. When Els says he hits his driver and pitching wedge with no change in speed, he means it. I’m almost sure he downs his beers with the same tempo. It’s ingrained in him.

And now folks, get your munchies ready. Els is coming to a golf course near you. Come the second week of February, you can catch him swing up close at the Delhi Golf Club, where he will be the star attraction at the Indian Masters. This is one exhibition of ball striking Indian golfers should not miss. Who knows, the tempo might just rub off on you. Here’s your chance to say: “Oh, that was easy!” next time you manage to hit one way down the middle.

TIP I TRIED: On the subject of tempo and rhythm, most teachers will tell you to take the golf club back slowly. The idea is to keep your body parts and club in sync, complete your backswing, and then come down all together and in control. There are some, however, who get too caught up in that “take your club back slowly” part. You could nip into the clubhouse as some of these guys start their backswings, get a bite to eat and then come back just in time to see them attempting to launch the golf ball. Guys like Els are the blessed ones. That smooth, seemingly effortless, swing comes naturally to them. There are golfers who might look as if they are swatting an irritating pest but they get the job done too. Rhythm is a personal and a personality thing. The best place to find yours—if you don’t know it already—is on the range.

— Prabhdev Singh is Editor, Golf Digest India