I must start by congratulating Davis Love III and his American team on a sensational performance in this year’s Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, their first wire-to-wire win in this event since 1979.
As I was saying in last week’s report, the standard of shot-making in this competition is always very high, but I think this year’s matches were something extra special, perhaps the best I’ve ever seen. The intensity and the emotions were off the charts…as was the birdie count! That seems only fitting in a week that began with the news of the sad passing of Arnold Palmer – one of golf’s most charismatic and flamboyant golfers and America’s second-top Ryder Cup points scorer. I think the manner of the American victory was the best of the many nice tributes that were paid to the great man throughout last week. In turn, Arnold himself would have surely loved the way the Americans played and indeed the collective spirit that the team brought to this year’s competition.
Anyway, the European team gave it absolutely everything, but it’s fair to say they came up against a united and unstoppable force on this occasion. And you can’t underestimate the power of the home fans in these competitions. Once you have momentum on your side, that home support can really put some extra wind in your sails. All in all it provided the best possible sporting theatre and all 24 players can each take a slice of the credit for that. Hats off to them.
Even on a losing side, Rory McIlroy was one of the standout players of the whole contest, and it was wonderful to hear him confirm last week that he’ll be participating in January’s BMW SA Open Championship hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni. This is exciting news for South African golf, for the fans and for everyone involved in the 106th playing of our national open.
I knew Rory was very serious about coming to South Africa when we first talked about the idea at the 2015 Irish Open and I’m glad that he has made the commitment to play so soon. We’ve gradually been assembling a strong field – including Olympians Brandon Stone, who is defending the title at Glendower, and Jaco Van Zyl – and obviously having a player like Rory on board is a signifiant boost in terms of prestige and global interest in the tournament. All in all, it is great for the growth of the SA Open, which has already been doing well over the last few years. It makes me feel especially proud to be able to play the role of tournament host at an event that means so much to me, as I know it does to all South African golfers and fans.
Another special tournament that I look forward to is the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, but sadly I’ve had to make the difficult decision to withdraw from this year’s tournament due to the recurrence of an old ankle injury. You may recall a couple of years ago that I trod on a tennis ball and turned my ankle over, which caused me some problems with mobility and my ability to get properly on to my left side in my golf swing. Unfortunately, it flared-up at the Porsche European Open. Since then I’ve been having treatment, but it’s not right yet. I want to send my very best wishes for a successful week to all my friends at Alfred Dunhill, to the pros and amateurs, and all the fans in Scotland. I see the weather forecast is good, dry and not too cold, so I’m sure everyone is in for a wonderfully entertaining week’s golf. I’m genuinely sorry to be missing it.
Always at times like this, though, as a professional athlete you have to be patient and take the longer-term view. The priority this week and the next is to get my ankle right, get myself fully fit, and try to be as ready as I can be to start my 2016-17 PGA TOUR campaign later this month. First I’m entered into the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur and then the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas followed by the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico. That’s an interesting little stretch of tournaments and I’m really looking forward to it.
Before I sign off I also want to mention The Els Club Desaru Coast where our Ocean Course, a really beautiful 27-hole layout, opened for play last week. It’s the first of two golf courses that we’re involved with in that part of the world, with an 18-hole design collaboration with my old buddy Vijay Singh also due to open in the near future. There’s no doubt we have the makings here of one of South-East Asia’s top new tourist and golfing destinations. Desaru Coast has a great location, in close proximity to several major Asian hubs, and has two wonderful golf courses on a corner of stunning coastline that simply takes your breath away. Everyone at Ernie Els Design is thrilled to be a part of this project. Please click here to read the full story.
Okay that’s it for now. Today I’ll be attending Arnold Palmer’s memorial service. There will be much sadness, of course. But, as is often the way at such events, it is also an opportunity to celebrate the life of a sporting icon and be thankful that we knew him.
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