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He's No.2 so he must try harder

As good as he's playing, Ernie Els is finding no escape from Tiger Woods.

By BOB HARIG

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 15, 2000

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Never has the journey to the top seemed so distant, so treacherous. Ernie Els once figured to be the golfer far out in front, squinting back at his pursuers. Now he's doing the chasing, running out of breath.

Els is having the kind of year most aspiring pros dream about. He seemingly is in contention every time he plays, banking more than $3-million on the PGA Tour, winning twice around the world, including last week at the International in Colorado.

But the two-time U.S. Open champion easily could have a couple more major championship trophies if a certain all-everything golfer didn't exist.

And don't think that Tiger Woods is looking over his shoulder, wondering who it is that's trying to close the gap.

Identified by Els as "you know who," Woods has won six times this year, and Els is growing weary of being there to offer congratulations.

Four of Woods' victories have come with Els finishing second: at the Mercedes Championships, the Memorial, the U.S. Open and British Open. Els also finished second to Vijay Singh at the Masters, giving him the rather dubious distinction of being the first player to finish runner-up in three majors in a row.

"With a little bit of luck, I'll finish second every time in the majors," Els quipped.

Els, of course, would love nothing more than to stop the Tiger streak at this week's PGA Championship, which begins Thursday at Valhalla Golf Club.

Other than Woods, few in the field could feel as good about their game entering the year's final major championship. In addition to his runner-up finishes at the U.S. and British opens, Els won the Loch Lomond Invitational in Scotland the week before the British Open and then captured the International, his first PGA Tour victory of the season and first in 18 months.

"At least you know you're playing pretty well, except for one guy," Els said. "At least that's a positive. I'm trying to get my game to where I think I can compete with the best players in the world. Sometimes you get there, sometimes you're not.

"At times I've felt like I played better than some of the winners. I'd hit the ball really great and somehow I made mental mistakes, stupid mistakes. At other times, guys just outplayed me. At times, you doubt. You think, "Man, what's going on?' It was never this hard to win, ever."

Els, 30, a South African who has homes in Johannesburg, London and Orlando, was flying to the first tournament of the year in Hawaii in January with his wife and child when the subject of setting his standards higher was discussed.

For a long time, Els has been viewed as one of the best players in the world, ready to take off after his second U.S. Open title in 1997. He has risen to No. 2 in the world ranking behind Woods.

"But I've got a guy who's better than me, so I've got to push myself to another level in order to play with this guy," said Els, who saw first-hand at Pebble Beach, where he finished 15 strokes behind Woods.

In a way, Els was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Finishing second never felt so bad -- although nobody had a chance that week.

But for what seemed like an eternity afterward, Els was peppered with questions about Woods. Is there an intimidation factor? Is it embarrassing? Is there anything you can do to catch up to Tiger? Do you have to play near perfect to beat him?

On and on and on.

"I don't want to ever have to do that again," said Els, who finished eight shots behind Woods at St. Andrews.

Els, along with players such as David Duval, Sergio Garcia, Davis Love, Phil Mickelson and Hal Sutton, has been mentioned as a possible rival to Woods. Unlike them, however, he has two major titles. He has won around the world. And his game can appear effortless.

But he said something telling after that runner-up finish at the U.S. Open, when he was still marveling at Woods' performance.

"He's so focused every time. That hunger for winning ... it's there every week," he said.

"To be honest with you, I don't feel like that every week when I'm playing. He's just different."

Nothing personal, mind you, but Els is tired of talking about Woods. The only thing worse is finishing behind him.

The two go together, of course, and Els knows there is but one way to change the topic of conversation:

Finish first.

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