Two-time winner Ernie Els completed his 26th and potentially final US Open with a second round 79 on Friday.
The Big Easy’s fairytale with what has become the hardest Major of them all came to an end in New York, ending a storied run that started back in 1993.
It took just a second bite at the cherry to get his name on the trophy after a top 10 on debut. Els has a second and a third to go with his two wins – his second coming in 1997 – but there was no against all odds performance this time as Shinnecock Hills’ brutal rough continued to play in the minds of the world’s best.
Els, playing on a sponsor’s exemption, opened with a bogey and added two more shortly afterwards as he strode out in +4 following another drop at the A trio of bogeys in a row from the 12th took further shine off his final nine holes on the course set up to keep as close to par as possible.
For all his woes this week which included a double bogey after finding the right rough on his final hole, there a dozens of great memories from a career well played as Els prepares in all likelihood to pack up his locker for the final time at this event.
The veteran South African was not alone in struggling around the brute of a golf course with Jon Rahm going 78-77, Martin Kaymer going 83, 76 with Sergio Garcia finishing 75-79.
Long-time rival of Els, Tiger Woods looks set to miss the weekend after a 73 on Friday to go with his opening 78.
Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images
