GLASGOW, Scotland -- Tiger Woods isn’t the only top player disgusted with cameras.
Ernie Els, the No. 2 player in the world, got so fed up at the Scottish Open that he summoned a photographer with his finger, then walked across the green toward the gallery ropes to confront him during the third round Saturday.
‘I had a nice little chat with the guy,’ Els said.
Woods grew increasingly frustrated with cameras last month at the U.S. Open, and it reached a point that caddie Steve Williams kicked over the lens of a New York Daily News photographer in the second round, and went into the crowd to take a camera away from an off-duty police officer in the final round.
Els was steaming Friday when a photographer getting pictures of Colin Montgomerie clicked the shutter as Els was in the middle of a 6-foot birdie putt, which he missed.
It didn’t get any better Saturday at Loch Lomond, and Els heard the click again on a birdie putt at the 14th. He made the putt, then the Big Easy - a misnomer in this case - took matters into his own hands.
‘When you are over the putt, concentrating on the stroke, you don’t want to hear sudden noises,’ he said. ‘It shouldn’t happen because the photographers are professionals, just like we are, and they should know better.’
Els stood and stared at the photographer, then called him over with his finger like a parent scolding a toddler. When the photographer backpedaled, Els went toward him. It wasn’t clear what Els said, but the 34-year-old South African continued to glare before stepping over the rope and heading to the next tee.
Els said his reaction was nothing new.
‘You probably don’t see it on camera,’ he said. ‘It happens at least once or twice a round. I think it’s been like this for a long time. I don’t think it’s getting worse, it’s just not getting better - which is bad.’
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