Ernie Els Wins British Open Following Adam Scott Collapse

Ernie Els remarkably won his second Open Championship for his fourth career major victory. (Stuart Franklin)

Ernie Els wasn't sure if he would ever return to top form. Things started to go down hill in 2004 when Els had a chance to win all four majors, but came up empty. He then had knee surgery. Next, came his son Ben's diagnosis with autism. Admittedly distracted with his son's ailment, Els struggled with his putting and largely his game as a whole. Things got so bad that he didn't even receive an invitation to this year's Masters.

Els' saving grace appeared to be that he was returning to Royal Lytham, the very place he had won his previous Open Championship ten years prior. He had a solid first round, but coming into Sunday's final round, he and everyone else was looking up at leader Adam Scott. Els stood six shots behind Scott to start the day and remained that far back after the front nine. Following a birdie by Scott on the 14th hole, Els fell to four shots back once again. Els concluded his round with a nice 15-foot birdie on the 18th hole, but it really felt like too little, too late.

After all, Scott looked to have the Open Championship all but sealed up with a four shot lead with four holes to play. But that is when Scott's nerves got the best of him. Poor tee shots and putting led to his large lead vanishing before everyone's eyes. His puts for par, no matter how easy, went begging wide of the hole. With his lead completely gone, Scott still had one chance left at the 18th hole. However, a bunker shot put him trouble. Scott responded well though and had a put to force a playoff with Els. But it wasn't meant to be as he unbelievably missed another straight forward put.

The victory earned Ernie Els his second Open Championship and fourth career major victory overall. Amazingly enough, the four major victories have occurred over three decades. But for the man they call Big Easy, the road to this victory was anything but that. If one considers what Els did both to get to this point again and how he won it on Sunday, it is an incredible accomplishment to consider.

For Adam Scott, it is sheer disappointment. A man who has been so close so many times, he came up just short once again. This will be very difficult for Scott to get over. The remarkable thing is that one of the best people that can relate to him and this feeling is the man that beat him, Ernie Els. Els has overcome a difficult stretch, now maybe he can help Scott do the same.