Ernie Els facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Ernie Els
Els in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Theodore Ernest Els
Nickname	The Big Easy
Born	(1969-10-17) 17 October 1969 (age 55) Johannesburg, South Africa
Height	6 ft 3 in
Weight	210 lb (95 kg; 15 st)
Nationality	South Africa
Residence	Wentworth, Surrey, England George, Western Cape, South Africa Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Spouse	Liezl (m. 1998)
Children	2
Career
Turned professional	1989
Current tour(s)	PGA Tour Champions European Senior Tour
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour European Tour Sunshine Tour
Professional wins	79
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	19
European Tour	28 (7th all-time)
Japan Golf Tour	1
Asian Tour	3
Sunshine Tour	16
PGA Tour of Australasia	5
Champions Tour	7
Other	21
Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 4)
The Masters Tournament	2nd: 2000, 2004
U.S. Open	Won: 1994, 1997
The Open Championship	Won: 2002, 2012
PGA Championship	3rd/T3: 1995, 2007
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame	2011
Southern Africa Tour Order of Merit winner	1991–92, 1994–95
European Tour Golfer of the Year	1994, 2002, 2003
PGA Tour Rookie of the Year	1994
European Tour Order of Merit winner	2003, 2004
Payne Stewart Award	2015
Old Tom Morris Award	2018

Theodore Ernest Els (born 17 October 1969) is a professional golfer from South Africa. He was once ranked the number one golfer in the world. People call him "the Big Easy" because he is tall and has a smooth, relaxed golf swing. Ernie Els has won more than 70 golf tournaments in his career. This includes four major championships, which are the biggest tournaments in golf. He won the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997. He also won The Open Championship in 2002 and 2012. He is one of only six golfers to win both the U.S. Open and The Open Championship twice.

Ernie Els also won the European Tour's money list in 2003 and 2004. He won the World Match Play Championship seven times, which is a record. He was the top earner on the European Tour for a long time. He was also the first player on that tour to earn over €25,000,000. Els was ranked in the top ten golfers in the world for 788 weeks, which was a record until 2013. He was chosen for the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2010 and joined in 2011. Today, Els mainly plays on the PGA Tour Champions, which is for golfers aged 50 and over.

Early Life and Amateur Golf

Ernie Els grew up in Lambton, Germiston, South Africa. As a kid, he played many sports like rugby, cricket, and tennis. He started playing golf when he was 8 years old. He was a very good junior tennis player and won a championship at age 13. Ernie learned golf from his father, Neels. He quickly became better than his father and older brother. By age 14, he was a "scratch handicap," meaning he could play golf at a very high level. Around this time, he decided to focus only on golf.

Ernie first became well-known in 1984 when he won the Junior World Golf Championship for boys aged 13–14. Phil Mickelson finished second to him that year. A few months after his 17th birthday, Els won the South African Amateur. He was the youngest person ever to win that event, breaking a record that had stood since 1935. In 1987, Els played in the British Amateur Championship but was knocked out in the match play part.

Several American universities wanted Ernie to play college golf. However, he chose to stay in South Africa. He completed his required military service in the South African Army starting in 1988. In 1989, Els won the South African Amateur Stroke Play Championship.

Professional Golf Career

Starting Out and First Major Win (1989–1996)

Ernie Els became a professional golfer in 1989. In 1991, he started playing on the Southern Africa Tour. He won his first professional tournament, the Protea Assurance South African Open, in 1992. He was the top player on that tour's money list in the 1991/92 and 1994/95 seasons. In 1993, Els won his first tournament outside South Africa in Japan.

In 1994, Ernie Els won his first major championship, the U.S. Open. He was tied with two other golfers, Colin Montgomerie and Loren Roberts, after 72 holes. They had an 18-hole playoff the next day. Even though he started the playoff with some tough holes, Els managed to tie Roberts' score. He then won on the second sudden-death hole to claim his first U.S. Open title.

Els traveled the world, winning the Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour. He also won the Toyota World Match Play Championship, beating Colin Montgomerie again. The next year, he won the World Match Play Championship for a second time. Els then won in the United States and two more times back home in South Africa. In 1996, he won his third straight World Match Play Championship. No one had ever won this tournament three times in a row before. He ended 1996 with another win at his home tournament, the South African Open.

Big Wins and Major Championships (1997–2002)

The year 1997 was a great one for Ernie Els. He won his second U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club, again beating Colin Montgomerie. This made him the first non-American player since 1910 to win the U.S. Open twice. He also won the Buick Classic and the Johnnie Walker Classic. Els almost won the World Match Play Championship for a fourth time but lost in the final. The years 1998 and 1999 were also successful, with four wins on both the PGA and European tours.

In 2000, the European Tour gave Els a special award for his two U.S. Open titles and three World Match Play wins. That year, Els finished second in three major championships and seven other tournaments around the world. In 2001, he didn't win a PGA Tour event for the first time since 1994, but he still had nine second-place finishes.

The year 2002 was one of Els's best. He started with a win in Australia. Then, in America, he beat the world's number one golfer, Tiger Woods, to win the Genuity Championship. The most important moment was his win at The Open Championship in tough weather conditions at Muirfield. Els won a four-man playoff to take home the famous Claret Jug trophy. This win also showed his mental strength. He also won his fourth World Match Play title and his third Nedbank Challenge, winning by a large margin.

The "Big Five" Era (2003–2005)

Els at Westchester in 2004

In 2003, Ernie Els won his first European Tour money title. Even though he played fewer tournaments than others, he won four times and finished second three times. He also did well in the United States, winning two tournaments in a row. He finished in the top 20 in all four major championships. To finish the season, Els won the World Match Play title for a record-tying fifth time.

Els shares a laugh during a practice round in 2004

The year 2004 was another successful one for Els. He won six times on different tours, including big wins at the Memorial Tournament and his sixth World Match Play Championship. He was very consistent in the major championships but lost to Phil Mickelson at the Masters. He also lost in a playoff at The Open Championship. Overall, Els had 16 top-10 finishes and won the European Tour money title for the second year in a row. He also finished second on the United States money list.

The period from 2004 to 2007 was known as the "Big Five era" in golf. During this time, Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, and Phil Mickelson were the top players. They often switched places in the World Golf Ranking. They won nine major championships among them, often competing against each other.

In July 2005, Els hurt his left knee while sailing. Even though he missed several months, he won a tournament soon after returning. With his win at the 2005 Qatar Masters, Els became the second golfer to win on all six major golf tours around the world.

Recovery and Comeback (2006–2011)

At the start of 2007, Ernie Els planned to challenge Tiger Woods for the world number one spot. He said he would focus completely on golf for three years. In 2007, he missed the cut at the Masters Tournament, which ended his long streak of making cuts on both the PGA Tour and the European Tour.

Ernie Els has often been compared to Greg Norman. Both golfers won multiple major championships but also had some tough losses in majors due to nerves, bad luck, or being outplayed. Els finished second in six major championships, often losing to Tiger Woods. Many people thought he had the right game to finally beat Woods in a major.

On March 2, 2008, Els won the Honda Classic in Florida. This was his first win on the PGA Tour in three and a half years. It was his 16th PGA Tour victory. In April 2008, Els changed his swing coach to Butch Harmon to improve his swing.

Els won the WGC-CA Championship in 2010, beating fellow South African Charl Schwartzel. This was his second World Golf Championship title. This win also made Els the top career money earner on the European Tour, passing Colin Montgomerie. Two weeks later, Els won the Arnold Palmer Invitational. This was his 18th PGA Tour win and his second in a row. He also became the leader in the FedEx Cup standings and held that spot for 22 weeks.

In June 2010, Els almost won his third U.S. Open title. He briefly shared the lead but then had a few difficult holes. He finished the tournament in third place. Els ended 2010 by winning the PGA Grand Slam of Golf and the South African Open. After a very successful 2010, Els struggled in 2011 and dropped out of the top 50 in the world rankings for the first time since 1993.

Fourth Major Win and Later Career (2012–2019)

Ernie Els started 2012 in his home country, finishing second in a playoff. He then almost won another tournament but missed a short putt on the last hole. In April, Els did not qualify for the Masters for the first time since 1993. Many thought this meant his time as a top competitor on the PGA Tour was ending.

However, Els surprised everyone by winning 2012 Open Championship in July. He made a birdie on the final hole to win. Adam Scott had a four-shot lead with only a few holes left but made bogeys on his last four holes, losing to Els by one stroke. This win brought Els's career back to life and gave him a five-year pass to play in the other three major championships. Els became the eighth player to win major tournaments in three different decades. His win also brought up discussions about the rules for long putters in golf.

In June 2013, Els won the BMW International Open in Germany. This was his first win since The Open Championship in 2012. He led the whole tournament and won by one stroke. This moved him up in the world rankings.

Els had a tough time finding his best form in 2014 and 2015. He missed many cuts, including at the Masters. In late 2015, he switched back to a shorter putter because of a new rule banning anchored putters in 2016. Els had well-known problems with short putts, sometimes called the "yips." At the 2016 Masters Tournament, his putting struggles were very noticeable when he took six putts from only three feet on his first hole. He ended up with a score of 9 on that hole. Els later said he was embarrassed by his putting.

PGA Tour Champions (2020–Present)

In January 2020, Ernie Els joined the PGA Tour Champions after turning 50. In his very first event, he tied for the lead but lost in a playoff. In March 2020, Els won the Hoag Classic in California. This was only his third tournament on the PGA Tour Champions. He finished two strokes ahead of other top golfers.

In October 2020, Els won the SAS Championship in North Carolina, winning by one stroke. In March 2023, he won the Hoag Classic again, by a single stroke. Els won three times on the PGA Tour Champions in 2024. These wins included the Principal Charity Classic, the American Family Insurance Championship, and his first major title on the senior tour, the Kaulig Companies Championship. Els won his seventh PGA Tour Champions event at the start of the 2025 season.

Personal Life and Other Interests

Ernie Els married his wife Liezl in 1998. They have two children, Samantha and Ben. In 2008, Els announced that his son Ben, who was five years old at the time, had autism. Their main home is in England, but they also spend time in South Africa and Florida to get the best treatment for Ben's autism.

Samantha Els, his daughter, played rugby for the Springbok Women's team in 2023. When he's not playing golf, Ernie Els designs golf courses. He also has a charity that helps young people from less fortunate backgrounds learn golf. He also owns a winemaking business. In May 2025, Els was part of a group that met with the U.S. President to discuss issues in South Africa.

Golf Courses Designed by Els

Ernie Els has designed many golf courses around the world. Some of them include:

Anahita Golf Course – Beau Champ, Mauritius
Mission Hills Golf Club (The Savannah Course) – Shenzhen, China
Whiskey Creek – Ijamsville, Maryland, USA
Oubaai – Garden Route, South Africa
The Els Club – Dubai, UAE
The Els Club Teluk Datai - Langkawi, Malaysia
The Els Club Desaru Coast - Desaru, Malaysia
The Els Club Copperleaf Golf and Country Estate – Gauteng, South Africa
Highlands Gate Golf Course - Dullstroom, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

He also helped improve the West Course at Wentworth in England in 2006.

Promoting Golf Worldwide

Ernie Els is known for playing in tournaments all over the world, not just in the United States. He believes golf is a global sport. This sometimes caused disagreements with the PGA Tour, which wanted him to play more in the U.S. In 2004, the PGA Tour director sent Els a letter asking him to play more in America, but Els disagreed publicly. This caused some upset in the golf world outside of North America.

Ernie Els's Charity Work

The Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation was started in 1999. Its goal is to find talented young golfers from poor backgrounds. The foundation helps them with education and financial support so they can reach their full potential.

In 2006, the first Friendship Cup was played. This is a golf competition between Els's foundation and Tiger Woods's foundation. Els's foundation won the first cup. Els has also taken part in charity golf events to help raise money for children in need around the world.

Helping Children with Autism

Since his son Ben was diagnosed with autism, Ernie and Liezl Els have been very active in charities that help people with autism. In 2009, Els started an annual charity golf event called the Els for Autism Pro-Am. This event raises money for The Renaissance Learning Center, a school for autistic children in Florida. The Els family has also started the Els Center of Excellence. This project aims to build a new campus for the school and a research facility, costing $30 million.

ASM Scholarships

In 2018, Ernie Els helped start an athletic scholarship company called ASM Scholarships. This company helps young athletes from different sports around the world get scholarships to American universities. The company helps over 1000 athletes each year, helping them get about $35,000 per year in scholarships.

Quotes from Ernie Els

Here are some things Ernie Els has said:

On his golf technique:

I've never been a very technical player. I don't get caught up in swing positions and mechanics. When I work on my swing...I'm looking for feels. You'll get better results—and often more distance—if you swing at eighty percent effort. I get all kinds of people telling me I have the best swing in the world—it's beautiful, it's effortless. But I know when that isn't true.

On his son's autism:

It's been a bit of a challenge ... It's so new to everybody, that a lot of people have different ideas. After seeing just about everybody in the world, I decided on this path we're going to go. Like any family will tell you, it's not easy. And it's a change of life, a change of priorities. You've got to be ready for it. And it's happening more often. I never knew about it, never thought about it, until it's in your lap.

Amateur Wins

1984 World Junior Golf Championships (Boys 13–14 division)
1986 South African Boys Championship, South African Amateur
1989 South African Amateur Stroke Play Championship

Professional Wins (79)

Ernie Els has won 79 professional tournaments around the world. Here are some of his most important wins:

PGA Tour Wins (19)

1994 U.S. Open
1995 GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic
1996 Buick Classic
1997 U.S. Open (2)
1997 Buick Classic (2)
1998 Bay Hill Invitational
1999 Nissan Open
2000 The International
2002 Genuity Championship
2002 The Open Championship
2003 Mercedes Championships
2003 Sony Open in Hawaii
2004 Sony Open in Hawaii (2)
2004 Memorial Tournament
2004 WGC-American Express Championship
2008 The Honda Classic
2010 WGC-CA Championship (2)
2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational (2)
2012 The Open Championship (2)

European Tour Wins (28)

1994 Dubai Desert Classic
1994 U.S. Open
1995 Lexington South African PGA Championship
1997 Johnnie Walker Classic
1997 U.S. Open (2)
1998 South African Open
1999 Alfred Dunhill South African PGA Championship
2000 Standard Life Loch Lomond
2002 Heineken Classic
2002 Dubai Desert Classic (2)
2002 The Open Championship
2003 Heineken Classic (2)
2003 Johnnie Walker Classic (2)
2003 Barclays Scottish Open
2003 Omega European Masters
2004 Heineken Classic (3)
2004 WGC-American Express Championship
2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship
2005 Dubai Desert Classic (3)
2005 Qatar Masters
2005 BMW Asian Open
2005 Dunhill Championship
2006 South African Airways Open
2007 HSBC World Match Play Championship (2)
2010 WGC-CA Championship (2)
2010 South African Open Championship (3)
2012 The Open Championship (2)
2013 BMW International Open

PGA Tour Champions Wins (7)

2020 Hoag Classic
2020 SAS Championship
2023 Hoag Classic (2)
2024 Principal Charity Classic
2024 American Family Insurance Championship
2024 Kaulig Companies Championship (Major)
2025 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai

Major Championships

Ernie Els has won four major championships:

He has also finished second in major championships six times and third five times. He has been in the top 10 in majors 35 times.

World Golf Championships

Ernie Els has won two World Golf Championships:

2004 WGC-American Express Championship
2010 WGC-CA Championship

Senior Major Championships

Ernie Els has won one senior major championship:

2024 Kaulig Companies Championship

Team Appearances

Ernie Els has represented South Africa in many team golf events:

Alfred Dunhill Cup (representing South Africa): 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 (winners), 1998 (winners), 1999, 2000
World Cup (representing South Africa): 1992, 1993, 1996 (Individual and team winners), 1997, 2001 (winners)
Presidents Cup (International team): 1996, 1998 (winners), 2000, 2003 (tie), 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2019 (as non-playing captain)
Alfred Dunhill Challenge (representing Southern Africa): 1995 (winners)

Images for kids

Els at Torrey Pines for the 2008 U.S. Open