Non-Vital National Debate Breaks Out Over Sands-Els Awkwardfest

Deadspin has the video posted of the post-final round Transitions interview of Ernie Els by Steve Sands. I don't think the PGA Tour will be posting this one on YouTube, except perhaps to show players that it's not always a bad idea to pass on a network interview.

Though it was not a great one for either man, was this worthy of the outrage on Twitter? (Jay Busbee with the Twitter highlights.). Can't we bottle this frustration for things that truly impact the game, like when they're hitting wedge into 15 at Augusta just a few years after lengthening it?

Bob Harig reviews Els' final round and noted this about the post-18th green scene.

After signing his scorecard, he did a slow burn waiting for television and radio interviews, snapping at a PGA Tour official in the process and then doing all he could to not go off on the questioners.

John Strege defends the question asked by Sands.

Sands' execution might have been off, but the subject was spot on. Short putts have been a nemesis in Els' decline in recent years, even inducing him to go to a belly putter for a time, despite his vociferous opposition to them ("As long as it's legal, I'll keep cheating like the rest of them," he said at one time). Those were less than confident strokes he put on matching four footers at 16 and 18.

Meanwhile there was a tournament winner thanks in part to Els, and it was new/old World No. 1 Luke Donald. Doug Ferguson's game story on the four-way playoff win. And the PGA Tour Productions highlights: