Ernie Els-Where would have he had ranked overall? Sad Story

I was watching Arnold Palmer's Tourney today and the "Big Easy" was putting on a show.

Most people have forgotten that he and Phil are 8 months apart in age and Ernie was a better player than Phil for most of there careers.

A few facts:

57 professional wins. 40 years old.

He had 2 majors at the age of 27- He won his third in 2002

He had 10 wins on the PGA and European tour in 2004 and 2005.

However, in 2005 he breaks his wrist and starts saying strange comments about his mental state of golf. In the next 4 years he only won twice, then a couple of weeks ago he won his 3rd.

In 2007 Els missed the cut at the Masters in 2007, this broke a string of 128 straight made cuts for Els. Second only to Woods 142 (which should be contested and removed with his withdrawal for an alleged illness since he was going to miss that cut.) Els streak is even more amazing when you add the fact that Els played all over the world, as compared to the hand picked schedule of Woods and Phil.

The True Story:

In 2003, Els and his wife gave birth to a son that was later diagnosed with Autism.

Maybe this family issue is not the sole reason for the golf decline, but I feel it would have done the same thing to me.

I now feel very guilty for doubting his mental toughness during that decline. Being a follower is bad enough, looked through jaded glasses like the media is embarrassing to me.

I really thought it was his inability to deal with losing and the injury was the sole cause of the decline.

I WAS SO WRONG.

Now we know the truth and what occupied his mental toughness, he loves his family more than golf. He is thriving in adversity and becoming more well known now for the millions of dollars he has given to the Autism cause than the incredible talent he displays.

J