Only a select number of sportsmen manage to enjoy that enviable gift called universal appeal. Over a British summer, Andy Murray is the latest to discover that he isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, just as Tim Henman found before him. In golf, Colin Montgomerie hasn’t been the first and won’t be the last to know that some fans won’t root for him.

Whatever other worries Ernie Els has on his mind these days, wanting to attract greater legions of wellwishers won’t be one of them. As we discovered again at the Barclays Scottish Open yesterday, the big South African belongs to that privileged, enchanted group who seem to have the entire world willing them on. As Els ambled along a fairway in that languid way of his, with Scottish voices cheering him on, a watching marshal smiled and said: “He’s just one of these incredibly likeable big fellas that everyone wants to see winning.”

It is not as simple as that, of course. In golf, in particular, there are some players who are masters of public gaiety and affected smiles, but who in private are known for being more sullen than sunny. With Els, though, what you see is what you get: an amiable, balanced man, grateful and content with what he’s got, who seems to attract admirers wherever he goes.

Most recently, with a diagnosis of autism, that bleak condition, affecting Ben, his 5-year-old son, Els has taken on an even more likeable human form. No one anywhere would wish such an anxiety on a parent, but when such news breaks it is a jarring reminder that even rich and famous people cannot be immune from life’s misfortunes. “It makes you realise what is most important in life – family,” Els said this week, and the public here warmed to him once more.

But what about the sharp business . . . the club and the ball? In shooting a 66 yesterday Els at least hoisted himself into contention at Loch Lomond, and he would dearly love to repay his army of supporters with a win tomorrow afternoon. Because the truth is, this is a real talent who has not fulfilled his potential in golf, and Els knows it.

What was it Curtis Strange said all these years ago, having just played with the young, blooming Els in the early 1990s? “I think I have just played with the next god of golf,” the two-time US Open champion said. At the time Els was being hailed as this wonder to come out of South Africa, with a strength, a physique and an arm extension all perfectly offset by a laid-back nature.

Strange’s words were swiftly followed up by Peter Kostis, the swing instructor, who said: “When I look at Ernie I see a proto-typical golfer for the 21st century.” Three major championship triumphs - the 1994 and 1997 US Opens and the 2002 Open Championship – are no disgrace, but Els has failed to live up to these early testimonies. Like Phil Mickelson, Sergio GarcÍa, Vijay Singh and others, he has had to learn to live with one defining fate: being a golfer in the Tiger Woods age. Els, undoubtedly, would have been a more dominant player but for Woods, and these days, at 38, is wrestling with the flaky genius within him.

On Thursday night he hadn’t slept well at Loch Lomond, due to his poor opening round of 72, one over par. It all speaks of a man relentlessly toiling to reclaim his place at the top of his sport.

“I didn’t sleep well – the first round was on my mind for quite a long time,” Els said after yesterday’s 66. “I haven’t putted well all year, so at least I managed to drop some today.

“I still work on my game as hard as I can. I might not have as much free time as I once did, so when I do get to work on it I need to focus hard.When you get older, I guess you maybe lose a bit more patience. Sometimes you force it a little too hard out on the course, and I’ve been doing that quite a lot recently.”

Els will be at Royal Birkdale for the Open next week – Woods won’t be because of injury – trying to add a greater sheen to the player he was supposed to be.

“I’m really looking forward to the weekend – I’d love to shoot a really low one and get myself in good shape for the Open,” he said. The Scots – like most other races – have appeared very fond of this golfer.