Thrash Talk: The Big Easy

[Thrash13]

Well, my Thrash Talk for this week will be published in the morning as usual, and this week I tried to dive into the mind of Ernie Els to see what has been going on with the Big Easy. It hasn't been real easy for him in the big tournaments as of late.

I'll just leave you with a couple little questions to hold you over until Thrash Talk is published. And I know I may have sounded kinda harsh on him, but someone has to be the bad guy. I'm a fan of him, but I had to speak it like I see it.

1. Does the extensive traveling affect Ernie Els' game for the worst?

2. Are his struggles on the mental side instead, coming so close in so many majors in 2004?

3. Is it just a regular mini-slump?

[iacas]

1. Does the extensive traveling affect Ernie Els' game for the worst?

I vote yes. I think that he's getting older, and plane time takes a bigger toll on him than it used to. Plus, it's tough to hit balls while you're in a plane. Even first class isn't

that spacious.

2. Are his struggles on the mental side instead, coming so close in so many majors in 2004?

I don't think so. Perhaps 5% of it is that, but he really hasn't mentioned it this year at all.

3. Is it just a regular mini-slump?

I also don't think that's the case. I think he's gotta stop his jet-setting ways or he may move out of the top five sooner than he'd have predicted. His place in history is precarious - a "good" player, but not yet a great player. He's gotta win another major or two to move on up, and if he keeps this up it's gonna be a long and winding road to nowhere.