South African golfing legend Ernie Els has issued a public appeal after discovering that his trusted 5-iron went missing following his appearance at the Senior Open at Gleneagles in Scotland.
The four-time Major champion, who is currently in Portugal, realised the club was no longer in his bag after travelling from the Senior Open, where he finished tied for 14th on one under par.
Els ended the week nine shots adrift of American champion Jelly Kelly, but it was only after leaving Scotland that the 56-year-old noticed his 5-iron – a club he has been using in competition – was gone.
Public plea on social media
Choosing not to speculate on how or where the club disappeared, Els instead turned to social media to ask for help from the golfing community and the wider public.
Posting to his followers, Els wrote: “Please DM me if you come across my @srixongolf 5-iron. I’d be so grateful for its return, thank you.”
The wording makes clear that Els believes the club could still be recovered if it has been picked up by a spectator, staff member or fellow traveller somewhere between Gleneagles and his current base in Portugal.
He did not provide specific details of when he last used or saw the 5-iron, nor exactly where along his journey he thinks it may have gone astray, but the public nature of his appeal suggests he hopes it might be recognised and handed back.
Sentimental value
While Els has not elaborated publicly on why this particular 5-iron is so important to him, the fact he has gone as far as to issue a direct appeal underlines its significance, whether in terms of feel, performance or sentimentality.
The club is a Srixon 5-iron, and Els’s request for anyone who “comes across” it to contact him directly indicates he is optimistic someone may encounter it in a clubhouse, pro shop, hotel, airport or even on a golf course.
No blame attached
Els has been careful not to attribute fault to airline staff, tournament officials, caddies or equipment handlers, simply saying that the club is missing since his move from Scotland to Portugal.
By focusing on locating the club rather than how it disappeared, he has invited cooperation rather than criticism, hoping that a straightforward return can be arranged if it surfaces.
Although there has been no official mention of a reward, the tone around the appeal has led some observers to suggest that anyone helping secure the safe return of the 5-iron is likely to be warmly thanked, and potentially more, by one of South Africa’s greatest golfers.
Els continues his schedule on the senior circuit, but for now, alongside preparing for his next event, the former Open and US Open champion is also waiting to see whether his message prompts the reappearance of the missing Srixon 5-iron.
