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Senior USGA official Tom Meeks was quoted recently in the Boston Globe as saying " I really think Ernie (Els) gave up after the first hole." Meeks was referring to Els play following a double bogie on the opening hole during the final round at Shinnecock Hills.

Ernie was understandably upset that a USGA senior official would make such a public remark and fired back with negative comments about the USGA's course set up for the US Open. It appears the normally laid-back Els let Meeks' comment get under his skin just before the British Open. What is your reaction to Meek's comment and what effect (if any) do you think this will have on Els in tomorrow's British Open?

I dont really think anybody from the USGA had anything to say to anyone at Shinnecock hills the way they were running it. And unless Meeks knows exactly what Els is thinking he shouldn't be critisizing one of the best players in the world. I dont think the comment will really effect Els, and hes one of the best golfers in the world and I dont really think that one negative comment could effect him. Hes strong and Im sure he'll do well tomarrow.

FWIW, I'd be willing to bet that Els would make a better high-ranking USGA official than Meeks would a world-class golfer. That's just me.

Els is a class act. A two-time US Open winner and one-time The Open winner is not a quitter.

Els has at least publicly, has always been a class act. For someone from the USGA to criticize him is ludicrous. You don't win as many tournaments, or majors as he has by being a quitter.

I wonder what brought the comment on? Maybe Meeks wanted to lash out in retaliation for all the negative comments the USGA received about the Shinnecock debacle.

If I could have one swing ingrained in me, it would be Els'. He exudes smooth, controlled power with such great tempo. Watching him play, I get the feeling that he's got a lot of power in reserve that he rarely uses. And he's got a short game to go along with it.

U. S. Open final round scores:

Garcia = 80

Howell III = 83

Verplank = 83

Kelly = 81

Did these fellas give up as well? It sounds like sour grapes...maybe Meeks had Ernie as a fantasy pick Well I have him this week...been savin' him for this event so that should tell ya how I feel about the Big Easy's chances at Troon. IMO if this affects him at all it'll be for the better. Go Ern.

Shade

If Iwas Ernie's caddie I would have a grin a big as a cheshire cat.
What more motivation could there be for someone like Els.
As for reserved power I do not think that someone has that since Slammin Sam.
He just seems to swing in slow motion..... We can only dream..... I would like to just slow mine to a blurrr and I would be happy.

NITBY

what they all said.......

I sure wouldn't have said what Meeks said. First, he's not a mind-reader; can't know whether Ernie gave up. Second, even if he did know that Ernie quit, it'd be so politically stupid to say it and alienate a great name and a great guy, especially when, as a 2-time Open champion, he'd be a good ally for the USGA. Sounds as if Meeks was caught in an unguarded moment and spoke off the cuff, without thinking. Also, he's probably still playing defense after all the heat he's been under over course set-up, including recent heat from Ernie.

I read in an AP item that the final-round average score was 78.72. So Ernie's 80 was just about level par.

Agree with what others have said: Great motivational material for Ernie, as if he needed any more.

The cheek of it! - How anyone can say that about the 'Big Easy' is beyond me.

I think Ernies hunger for victory and to be the World number one has never gone away...hey we all have bad days don't we.

The "Big Easy" says it all. I really admire Ernie's composure, and I think it'll be forgotten when he tees off at Royal Troon. Dirty thing for the guy to say, but he'll leave it off of the course...as it should be.
Win it all Ernie!!!
Mike

Having never seen the guy lose his temper or get even slightly mad when a bad shot crops up (not often i know) he is mentally the perfect golfer along with Mr.Singh who also does his talking on the course...the stats cannot lie folks! :D