Host, houseguest to do battle on Sunday at CA Championship

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Ernie Els is paired with countryman and houseguest Charl Schwartzel in the final round.

DORAL, Fla. -- Ernie Els might need to start charging Charl Schwartzel rent.

Particularly if the up-and-coming young South African gets the better of Els in Sunday's final pairing of the World Golf Championships-CA Championship.

"He might be sleeping in the garden, you never know," the Big Easy said with a chuckle.

Daily Wrap-up, Round 3
Leaderboard: Round 3
Replay: Schwartzel
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Schwartzel interview
Els interview

The host and houseguest, who bonded over practice rounds and some of Els' best wine at his home Jupiter, Fla., last week, enter the final round tied for the lead at 12 under, leading by one stroke over Padraig Harrington and two up on Robert Allenby.

The significance of the pairing was not lost on the South African veteran, who won a better-ball tournament with Schwartzel's father, George, back in 1987.

"I think it's a wonderful, cool story," Els said. "It's great for South African golf, obviously. World golf, obviously, a new young star, 25-year-old really making his mark this year. He's won twice. He's a force to be reckoned with."

Els, though, is a three-time major champion with 16 PGA TOUR wins and 44 worldwide. Granted, he's only won once on TOUR in the last five years, but the 40-year-old is more content and confident this year than he's been in a long, long time.

"It's going to be a big day for me tomorrow, and obviously I know that," Els said.

When Schwartzel was a kid growing up in Johannesburg, he used to study tapes of Els' smooth, fluid swing. His father would take him to watch his friend play and Schwartzel eventually became a member of Els' junior golf foundation, traveling with the team.

"He was like my big hero," Schwartzel said with a shy grin.

The Big Easy used to play golf at the club where Schwartzel learned the game. He remembers his young friend was full of "passion at an early age" and isn't surprised that Schwartzel has already parlayed that into a solid career -- winning five times on the European Tour and rising to No. 35 in the world.

"There's a lot of kids out there like that but he's really special because he's truly making it now," Els said.

Schwartzel reached the third round of the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship -- one round further than Els, in fact -- and flew to Orlando after Stewart Cink sent him packing two weeks ago. He drove down to Jupiter the following Saturday and looked Els up.

"I just found him actually to ask him if I could practice with him and he said, sure, why don't you come stay with me," Schwartzel recalled. "I said, oh, well, that would be nice."

Els was playing in The Honda Classic last week, but the two managed to squeeze in some practice rounds at Seminole Golf Club and nightly practice sessions on the range at The Bear's Club. Schwartzel even plans to stay with Els again next week.

"I fed him well. I gave him good wine,'" Els said with a smile. "So he owes me, big time. ... I think he had a great week. We met his fiancée and it was great having him there. I've known him a long time and he almost feels like a little brother to me in some ways.

"... Now we are in the final round. I think if we talked about it last week to end up this way, I don't think we ever would have even in our wildest dreams have imagined that. I think it's great."

For Els, the hours he spent on the range were particularly important because they paved the way to success this week. He'd started 2010 on a strong note but that closing 75 and tie for 67th at The Honda Classic had left him searching for answers.

Els moved the ball up in his stance, though, and by Wednesday before the CA Championship began he was feeling comfortable again. He's ready to test the changes under the most intense pressure on Sunday at TPC Blue Monster at Doral.

"From where I was last week to where I am today is quite a change,'" Els said. "It's a totally different mindset so I'm ready to play well."

Schwartzel may be the untested one. But he should have a bit of a comfort zone due to their relationship and confidence because he's playing well after winning twice on the European Tour already this year. He's got the shots and hits it long but the big change is in his mental approach -- even if he doesn't want to admit it to his dad.

"He used to say, "You're getting down on yourself, you're too hard on yourself. You need to be more relaxed and more positive," Schwartzel acknowledged. "I thought about it, and I had a good holiday and I came back, and it sort of just changed. I just started thinking a lot better."

Els expects nothing but the best from Schwartzel and says he'll be tough to beat. And regardless of what happens, The Big Easy going to take pride from it -- even if things don't happen to go his way.

"I think it's great," Els said. "When we started the foundation, this is what we were after. ... Tomorrow, we shake hands and play 18 holes as hard as we can. He's going to try and win. I'm going to try and win.

"I just think it's very cool. It's a great story."

With two very good possible endings. .