ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Tiger Woods spoke with sentiment and respect until a twist at the end.
Woods hit safely onto the green during the opening round of the 2010 HSBC Champions in Shanghai, stepped to the side and looked over at Ernie Els shifting his hips to settle that 6-foot-4 frame over his shot.
”You know, I’ve probably been around this guy longer than anyone on tour,” Woods said that day, perhaps reminiscing about his final major as an amateur, the 1996 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, when he sought out Els for advice on whether to turn pro.
Article continues below …
”And after all these years,” Woods said with a hint of a smile, ”you still forget just how (expletive) big he is.”
They both are giants for what they’ve done for their sport. Their final act will be as captains of the Presidents Cup in 2019 at Royal Melbourne.
Els speaks as eloquently about Woods as anyone. He is always honest and usually right.
He just couldn’t keep up with Woods, which was no shame…