For students of the swing, it was the ultimate master-class - Steve Elkington and Retief Goosen playing together. And though it wasn't what the participants would have wished, there was the comfort of watching them among the early starters yesterday in the WCG/NEC Invitational at Firestone.
Balance and tempo were the dominant ingredients as the Australian and South African swept the ball with enviable ease along tree-lined fairways. And, while doing so, Goosen could reflect on a richly-productive summer which delivered victories in the US Open and the Scottish Open.
But, for Elkington, an opening round of 73 here on Thursday was no more than he might have anticipated after being forced to withdraw from the USPGA Championship at Atlanta last week with yet another ailment. Returning to the event for the first time since 1998, he could do no better than a dispiriting 77.
It was yet another signpost marking a bitter decline for a player who had captured the title at Riviera in 1995 after a play-off with Colin Montgomerie and who, as recently as two seasons ago, topped $1 million in US tour earnings.
He slipped to 154th position in last year's money list, however, and is now languishing down in 171st place.
Still, he won't have to contemplate a trip to the Tour School, given that victory in the 1997 Players Championship leaves him exempt until the end of the 2007 season. And with tournament earnings of $8.5 million, money is not a problem.
But for a player of his quality, his current struggle is difficult to accept. In 19 tournaments this season, he missed five cuts and has a best finish of tied-13th in the Buick Classic two months ago.
By any standards, Elkington has been extraordinary unfortunate with his health. Scars on a leg and behind his left ear, are the products of skin cancer. He has had shingles and four attacks of meningitis, while chronic sinus problems left him, at one stage, allergic to grass. His withdrawal last week was caused by dizziness and nausea.
Against that background, it is a cruel irony that he should appear so fit, with a fine, athletic frame of 6ft 2ins and 13st. 8lbs. Though there are no hints of self-pity, it is clear that he resents the notion of being written off, at 38, as a major figure in the game. "It's really an old story," said the Australian, who now lives in Houston, where he has the 1956 US Masters champion, Jackie Burke, as a neighbour. "I was born with my allergies which, thankfully, are better now. And I don't feel slighted. . . ."
He went on: "There are three key parts to being a professional sportsman - your health, your confidence and your game. And it starts with your health." The toll which health problems have taken on Elkington's career are reflected in an average of fewer than 18 tournaments per season, over the last four years in the US.
"Jackie Burke tells me stories about Ben Hogan coming back from a car wreck," he went on. "He talks about other pros who have gone through so much. And they came back, which is what I've been trying to do." The effort seemed to be paying off. After both he and Goosen had birdied the first, Elkington became the more impressive of these sultans of swing. In the end, he outscored the South African with a 68 to a 69, equalling his best round of the season.
One sensed he was afraid of expecting too much, for fear of upsetting the golfing fates which have dealt him so many dud hands. Still, he was bold enough to suggest afterwards: "I feel I may have turned the corner. What I need now is to try and get some momentum into my game after a very disappointing first half of the year."
His plan now is for a busy autumn, including the inaugural Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland in October. And later on, home to Australia for Christmas.
