Ernie Els -or- Vijay Singh?

[QuantFx]

Which one makes the announcement that they are heading over to the Champions Tour, first?

Both of these players will go down in my book as two of the stalwarts of the game. Vijay, has 34 wins and 3 majors, while Ernie, has 19 wins and 4 majors.   That's 53 wins between the two of them and a tidy 7 majors total.  Not a bad dual career, though Vijay, did start his career a full 6 years before Ernie.

This was going to be the new era of the 6ft 2in / 6ft 4in, 200+lb bomber who lit up golf courses tour wide and dominated leader boards with their overall length off the tee and from the fairway.  Neither of the two giants let is down in that regard, hitting some amazingly long drives (in their day) and some deeply penetrating irons shots from the fairway, into greens that were probably a bit more tighter than they are playing today on some courses.

Ernie, seemed as though he was born long both off the tee with a driver and with his mid-irons.  Yet, it was Vijay, who year after year amazed us by continuing to actually increase his distance with his weighted practice swing bar (who remembers that).  Both players had great short games from off the green, but it was Vijay, who spun the ball back (pre-groove re-regulations) the most.

Yet, both of them were capable of hitting towering (extremely high) cut shots with mid-irons that simply seemed to outdo the competition at time, giving them more opportunities to put far birdie.  And, when it came to putting it was clearly Ernie Else, who was able to dialed up the heat and served some amazingly smooth puts on both a frequent and consistent basis, seemingly from anywhere on the green.  But, when it came down to giving the new kid on the block a run for his money, it was Vijay Singh, who between the two of them, put the most pressure on Tiger Woods, for the longest period of time - with Vijay, even once stripping the World's Number #1 Title from Woods, forcing Tiger, to earn it back.

Frankly, I'm going to miss both of them on the regular PGA Tour when they are gone.  Both played well enough to stick around on the weekend at Augusta, during this years Masters Tournament, but with Vijay, never breaking 70 all week long in 54th place, carding a 1 under 295, and Ernie, seeing just one sub 70 round the entire week in tie for 22nd place, carding a 2 under 286, it might not be too soon to start wondering  - how much longer will they continue to grind it out with not just one generation, but not two younger generations in full bloom underneath them, before they sign their final PGA Tour card and head over to the Champions Tour?

[QuantFx]

I was going to cast my vote in the poll above, but then I hesitated and realized that I really don't know which one will say uncle first.  My gut says, Ernie, but my head says Vijay.   I'm going to take a little more time to think about before I vote.

[joekelly]

To save time, here is some info: VJ born 22 Feb 1963; Ernie born 17 Octo 1969.

[Dave2512]

Vijay already plays Champions Tour events. Ernie can't for 4 years.

[QuantFx]

To save time, here is some info: VJ born 22 Feb 1963; Ernie born 17 Octo 1969.

Aside from age being a strict requirement:  Vijay, has been on a work-out regimen that Ernie, has not over the years, too.  That's clearly paid some physical dividends for Vijay, at this stage in his career.  For some reason, I felt like Ernie has showed more of a psychology of nearing the end more so than Vijay.  You can hear it in his press conferences and see it more in his face.  He wants to be much more competitive than he's been over the past several years - he certainly has a different press conference demeanor now, than he did when I first began paying attention to him.

I don't know - I still have not voted in the poll yet, but I am leaning towards someone at this point.

[QuantFx]

Vijay already plays Champions Tour events. Ernie can't for 4 years.

How about just "Announcement to retire from regular PGA Tour." Who is going to be first to do that?

Plenty of the other old-timers made public announcements that they were basically retiring from a regular PGA Tour schedule.  We've seen them from time to time emerge in special PGA Tour Events, but for the most part, their PGA Tour careers were over.

[Dave2512]

Seems all the better ones pop in and out so maybe semi-retirement is their thing. But 6 years is a pretty big difference after age 50. If Ernie does what Vijay does playing on both Vijay will be near 60 when Ernie does double duty. I am older than Ernie 6 years ago I was a different person.

[RJH999]

Vijay is crazy old.

[Gunther]

Vijay already plays Champions Tour events. Ernie can't for 4 years.

Bingo, no brainer

[jbishop15]

I think that Ernie would retire from the PGA Tour first. Singh has a crazy intense workout regimen that keeps him going; not to say that Ernie doesn't, of course, but I'd put my money on Singh lasting the longest out there.

[disco111]

Since VJ is already playing senior tour events and has a better chance for being in contention than on the regular tour, I'd have to say he'll announce first. I think Ernie still wants to play and perhaps not as much on the regular tour, but if he wants to play senior tour, he won't or shouldn't (IMO) totally pack it in.