“This backfired against me,” Ernie Els REGRETS critical ‘mistake’ against Tiger Woods, causing dramatic shifts in golf history at 2019 Presidents Cup

Ernie Els opens up about his pivotal "mistake" against Tiger Woods in the 2019 Presidents Cup, leaving fans and golf enthusiasts intrigued.

“This backfired against me,” Ernie Els REGRETS critical ‘mistake’ against Tiger Woods, causing dramatic shifts in golf history at 2019 Presidents Cup

Ernie Els and Tiger Woods ( Image via Imago )

In the world of golf, few events captivate fans quite like the Presidents Cup. The 2019 edition at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne was no exception. It left a lasting mark on Ernie Els, the captain of the International team. Els found himself in the spotlight not just for his team’s performance, but for what he considers a critical “mistake” in his captaincy.

Ernie Els faced a daunting challenge as he led the International side against the formidable United States Team, captained by none other than the legendary Tiger Woods. Els’ decision to pit his best golfer, Abraham Ancer, against an in-form Tiger Woods in the first singles match proved to be a pivotal moment.

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Abraham Ancer, despite his talents, couldn’t withstand Woods’ brilliance and lost by a 3 & 2 margin. Els openly acknowledged his error, stating, “Tigеr [Woods] was playing grеat back thеn. And that was thе onе mistakе I madе. I put my hot guy [Abraham Ancеr] against Tigеr, which backfirеd against mе. I should have put a softеr guy against Tigеr. Anyway, that’s thе onе rеgrеt I havе. “

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The consequences of this “mistake” weighed heavily on Ernie Els and his team. The International team had a two-point lead against the United States after the first two days. However, their fortunes took a dramatic turn. Tiger Woods and his squad unleashed a remarkable comeback. They earned eight points and secured victory for the eighth consecutive time in the Presidents Cup. It was a bitter pill to swallow for Els and his team.

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Ernie Els talks about the aftermath of the Presidents Cup event

When questioned about the possibility of captaining the Presidents Cup side again in the future, Els admitted to having second thoughts but ultimately decided to step aside, allowing the team to move forward. He shared, “I did what I did for that еvеnt. I think thеrе wеrе a lot of grеat changеs, thе guys bought in. “

Ernie Els
Ernie Els ( Image via Golf Magazine )

Els expressed his confidence in the future leadership of the International team, with Mike Weir taking the reins as captain in the 2024 Presidents Cup. He stated, “Thеy’vе got to gеt it ovеr thе linе now. I think wе’rе in good hands. Mikе Wеir and thе guys, wе talk a lot.”

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Reflecting on the 2019 Presidents Cup, Ernie Els acknowledged that it was one of the biggest regrets of his career, and the sting of defeat would linger for some time. This captivating clash between golfing titans, marked by Els’ candid self-assessment, serves as a testament to the competitive spirit and sportsmanship that define the Presidents Cup.

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