Els On Technology: "I look around now and see guys winning, guys who could never have done so 20 years ago."

Fantastic diatribe by Ernie Els on the belly putter, technology and the role lax rules have had in stripping the professional game of certain skills.

From John Huggan's Scotland On Sunday column:

“Equipment advances have had a huge effect on the ability of anyone to separate himself from the rest,” says Els. “Everyone is custom-fitted these days. The belly putter helps people like me. The big-headed drivers mean that everyone hits it like only Greg Norman used to. You can even get clubs that will help you eliminate draws or fades. Guys are more educated about their own games. Course management is better. And so is fitness. 
No-one is going to big Sunday night parties 
any more,” he adds with a laugh.

“I’m sure the ruling bodies are looking at all those equipment issues. Driving was an art form not so long ago, but it isn’t now. Everyone has a huge metal-headed driver with a huge sweet spot, one that makes bad driving far harder to achieve. The short game was the same, but it isn’t any more. Everyone can get a club that will help him pitch and chip like only Seve could do in his heyday. I look around now and see guys winning, guys who could never have done so 20 years ago. Maybe we pros do need to have smaller drivers, less lofted wedges and a ball everyone must use.”