Ernie Els Interview Was Equal Parts Short And Painfully Awkward

Ernie Els was in contention for at least a playoff at the end of the Transitions Championship today at Copperhead Course in Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida. Then he reached the final two holes, which he would bogey. He missed a gimme putt on 18 and missed out on a playoff and the championship. The above exchange with NBC/The Golf Channel's Steve Sands is what followed.

According to Devil Ball Golf, the reaction was instant and pro-Els by fans and golfers alike.

Steve Elkington said that Steve Sands "goes Jim Gray" (a reference to Gray's infamous 1999 skewering of Pete Rose) and "time will tell if it's career ending."

"Not sure that was a great interview with Ernie Els after the round," Ian Poulter added.

"That question was a bit short and stuck in like a dagger. Not cool."

Now, it was surely awkward and completely useless—why not ask him how he's feeling while you're at it, Sands?—but a fireable offense? Seems a bit harsh. Unless this standard will be held to athlete/coach interviews across all sports. Bombs away, in that case. Did Ernie Els' post-round Golf Channel interview cross the line? [Devil Ball Golf]