Pros advice

Ernie Els misses maybe easiest putt of all time at Dunhill Links

Firstly, let’s say Ernie Els is a four-time Major winner and a legend of the game.

The Big Easy has achieved more in golf than we could ever dream about.

So it’s with no disrespect that we highlight this shocking putt one-foot putt on the Old Course at St Andrews during round one of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

It’s more to show that - if it can happen to a four-time Major winner, then it can happen to anyone.

If it was Match Play the putt would surely have been given - no matter what the situation.

To say the 45-year-old was less than pleased with his effort is an understatement. Rather than seeing the ball disappear into the hole it squirted horribly to the right.

“Anybody’s ever seen the yips, obviously that was the perfect yip stroke you’ve ever seen in your life,” Els said afterwards. "It is what it is. The game of golf you’ve got to do some silly things when you play long enough. Obviously I had my moment there."

Unfortunately putting has been the Achilles' heel of the two-time Open Champion in recent years. He frequently went to the belly putter when struggling but is persisting with the shorter stick in preparation for next year’s anchoring ban.

Els finished the tournament in a tie for 27th on -11.

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