ORLANDO, Fla. — The shock had worn off within a day. The pressure only intensifies.
Finish first or second in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and Ernie Els likely moves into the top 50 of the world rankings in time to get a late Masters invitation. Otherwise, it’s win or bust next week in Houston.
A tall order, even for a Hall of Famer such as Els. But that’s what it comes down to if the South African plans to extend a run that has allowed him to drive down Magnolia Lane the last 18 years.
“I’ve just got to push through,” Els said after wrapping up his two-day appearance in the Tavistock Cup. “To win last week would have been absolutely perfect.”
In a year marked by great come-from-behind victories, Els’ charge in the Transitions Championship had the potential to be the most uplifting.
Starting the final round three shots off the pace, Els reeled off five birdies in a six-hole span to rise above a jumbled leaderboard. Never mind the vagaries of the world rankings; a win punches its own Masters ticket.
All Els had to do was par his way through the three holes of Innisbrook’s finishing “Snake Pit,” and the bar might have been high enough to hold off anyone from the final groups.
Els missed a 5-foot birdie putt at No. 16 but at least got his par. Then came a bogey-bogey finish — the final wound in the form of a missed 4-foot par save.
“I was trying to just jam it in there,” he said, “and I pulled it.”
Els’ thousand-yard stare afterward said more than an awkward TV interview would convey. And he wasn’t the only one left stunned.
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“That’s unusual for a guy like Ernie, a player of the caliber that he is,” Palmer said Wednesday. “You never know what’s going on. Sometimes it’s confidence in your game; sometimes it’s a mental lapse.”
In Els’ case, it was a manifestation of the putting woes that have sabotaged his game for the better part of two years.
“Ernie’s obviously struggled on the greens more than anything,” said Luke Donald, Sunday’s eventual playoff winner. “Putting is very mental. Hopefully he can figure it out.”
This week has brought an undercurrent of sentiment for Augusta National to give Els a special invitation, in consideration of two runner-up finishes there and three major titles elsewhere.
Don’t bet on it, though. The only special invites extended in the last 10 years have gone to Asian pros as the club seeks to promote the game on that continent. Greg Norman was the last non-Asian, invited in 2002.
Meanwhile, Els soldiers on. He putted well enough Tuesday for a 5-under 67 that shared Tavistock Cup medalist honors. Left unanswered is whether he can carry it over for four days at Bay Hill.
“It’s kind of left me now, what happened on Sunday,” said Els, now No. 62 in the rankings. “I’m refocusing on the things I want to work on and get better. I made some nice ones and I’m looking forward to a good week.”
The window, though, is rapidly closing.