About Ernie Els

Ernie Els was born in South Africa on the 17 October 1969. He excelled in sport from a very young age and started playing golf at the age of 8. He achieved his first win (certainly not his last!) in 1984 by winning the Junior World Golf Championship in the Boys 13-14 category. Throughout the years, Ernie Els has achieved much in the world of golf, with numerous wins in prominent global golfing tournaments. He has also been the holder of the number one spot in the Official World Golf Rankings, and is consistently ranked within the top five.

With this great talent as a golfer, Ernie Els has been awarded the nickname, the "Big Easy". This name refers not only to the smooth and effortless way with which he swings his golf club, but also to his low-key and easy-going nature on the golf course.

Ernie Els motto is "live for the moment" and "take every opportunity that comes your way". By following these mottos in life, it is no wonder that he has achieved such amazing successes throughout his golfing career.

Ernie’s achievements are endless. Apart from being awarded his junior Springbok colours in 1984, the State President Sports Award in 1987 and his full Springbok colours, this talented golfer has also dominated numerous golfing tournaments in his lifetime. The following list shows some of his major achievements from 1994 through to 2006:

Three Major Championships:

• 1994 US Open Championship
• 1997 US Open Championship
• 2002 British Open Championship

Eleven PGA Tours:

• 1995 GTE Byron Nelson Classic
• 1996 Buick Classic
• 1997 Buick Classic
• 1998 Bay Hill Invitational
• 1999 Nissan Open
• 2000 The International
• 2002 Genuity Championship
• 2003 Mercedes Championship - Sony Open in Hawaii
• 2004 Sony Open in Hawaii - Memorial

Forty-Five European and Worldwide Titles:

• 1991 Amatola Sun Classic
• 1992 Protea Assurance South African Open - South African Masters
- Hollard Royal Swazi Sun Classic
- Lexington South Africa PGA Championship
- First National Bank Players Championship
- Goodyear Classic


• 1993 Dunlop Phoenix Tournament
• 1994 Dubai Desert Classic - Toyota World Matchplay Championship
- Johnnie Walker World Championship
- Sarazan World Open


• 1995 Toyota World Matchplay Championship
- Bells Cup
- Lexington South Africa PGA Championship


• 1996 South African Open - Toyota World Matchplay Championship
- Johnnie Walker Super Tour Event
- World Cup of Golf


• 1997 Johnnie Walker Classic - PGA Grand Slam of Golf
- World Cup of Golf
- Dunhill Links Championship (Team)


• 1998 South African Open - Dunhill Links Championship (Team)
• 1999 Alfred Dunhill South Africa PGA Championship - Nedbank Golf Challenge
• 2000 Nedbank Golf Challenge - Standard Life Loch Lomond Tournament
• 2001 Vodacom Players Championship - World Golf Championship (Unofficial Event)
• 2002 Heineken Classic - Nedbank Golf Challenge
- Dubai Desert Classic
- Cisco World Match Play Championship


• 2003 Heineken Classic - Johnnie Walker Classic
- Barclays Scottish Open
- Omega European Masters
- HSBC World Match Play Championship


• 2004 WGC - American Express Championship - Heineken Classic
• 2005 Dubai Desert Classic - BMW Asian Open
- Qatar Masters


• 2006 Dunhill Championship

Due to his extraordinary talent as a golfer, many prestigious companies have become keen sponsors of Ernie Els. It is the perfect opportunity to link a company name to such an outstanding, globally-recognised sportsman. Some of Ernie Els' current sponsors include the following:

• Footjoy / Titleist
• Golf Digest
• Omega
• Phiton
• Rockroller
• SAP
• Wentworth
• Woodworm

Throughout his 16-year professional golfing career, Ernie Els has established himself as a successful global player. His competitive, yet relaxed nature has enabled him to achieve great things in the world of golf. Ernie Els is one the greatest golfers in South Africa and he will definitely go down in history as being one of the best in the world.