Wyndham Championship: Ernie Els and the greatest moment in tournament history

This week the PGA Tour heads to North Carolina for the Wyndham Championship, where in 2013 Ernie Els proved that sometimes a golfer needs to hit rock bottom before he can display his greatness.

Ernie Els has plenty to be proud of in his career. He’s a four-time major champion, member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, has owned the No. 1 world ranking and is widely considered one of the smoothest swingers of the golf club the game has ever seen.

But The Big Easy hasn’t always made things easy on himself.

Five years ago, on the 10th hole of Friday’s round during the 2013 Wyndham Championship, the Big Ern put together two of the most astounding back-to-back shots in Tour history. Facing a severe break he took aim from the fringe at a 45-degree angle to the cup.

The ball rose through the fringe, but unfortunately for Els, never took the break and remarkably never even reached the putting surface.

It remains one of the worst golf shots I’ve ever witnessed by a professional. But this is Ernie Els, and when up against the ropes, the South African channeled his inner Springbok and pronked his way back into form by hitting one of the best shots I’ve ever witnessed by a professional.

Ernie sank his two-putt from the fringe, not even blinking at a downhill putt so steep that semi trucks wouldn’t be allowed to drive on it. Amazingly, since he never struck a ball that was resting on the putting surface, he gets credited with zero putts on the hole.

So this weekend as we enjoy the action at the Wyndham, let’s all take a moment to remember one of golf’s most spectacular moments. And if you’re looking for more blunders from Ernie, look no further than his unforgettable collapse on Augusta’s first green.

That’s why the pros don’t take gimmes.