Is masters failure the end of Ernie Els?
ERNIE Els's failure to qualify for his 19th consecutive US Masters marks the end of an era in South African golf and the baton has officially been handed over to the younger generation.
Defending Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and 2010 Open winner Louis Oosthuizen will carry South Africa's hopes at Augusta and beyond as the 42-year-old Els slips down the rankings.
Els's failure to win the Houston Open this week, or to move into the world's top 50 ranked players, means he will miss the Masters for the first time since making his debut in 1994.
What's more disappointing for Els is that his form in recent weeks has been superb and he looks capable of entering the winner's circle again.
Though the Masters organisers published the field for the 2012 event yesterday, Els could still get a last-minute invitation if there is a change of heart from the grim Augusta committee. But Els was in no mood for charity.
"It's not going to change my life either way," Els said after finishing in a tie for 12th at 10-under in Houston. Most impressively he only had two bogeys all week. "I've played many (tournaments) out there (at Augusta). It's one of those things."
Els said he would snub organisers if they invited him to the tournament. "To go through all of this, and then get an invite, I wouldn't take it," he said.
Els has twice been runner-up at the Masters and in his prime was always one of the favourites. But putting problems over the past two years have set him back, though in recent weeks he looked to be reaching good form.
In fact, his ball striking has never been better and with his putting and confidence improving, coupled with his intimate knowledge of Augusta's nuances, he would have been a contender at the year's first major.
With great story lines dominating the build-up to the tournament, from Tiger Woods's resurgence and his battle with rising star Rory McIlroy to the excellent form of all the world's leading players, Els's would have been another potentially thrilling story. Though he played down the significance of missing the Masters, it must hurt because he has made it clear since January that qualifying for Augusta was his immediate goal.
"A lot of people remind me of the fact that I might miss the Masters and I don't need any reminding," Els said at the Volvo Champions at Fancourt. "I know where I stand and I know what I have to do.
"It's another incentive to play good golf because I don't want to miss the Masters and I don't want to be asking for an invite there."