GolfPlayerMania

It is a great honor and distinction to be known as one of the world’s greatest golfers.  There are only a handful of players in the world who are universally recognized as the best golfers in the world today: Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els.  Each of these golfers have a few things in common; they were very good at a very early age, have won many tournaments and have used their fame for the betterment of society.

Ernie Els, nicknamed “The Big Easy”, has been playing golf since he was 9 years old.  Els was born on October 17, 1969 in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Els became a scratch golfer by the age of 14 and won his first amateur tournament in 1989 at the South African Amateur Stroke Play Championship.  Els has been linked with the aforementioned other dominant players in the world since he was young; Els beat out Phil Mickelson in the Junior World Golf Championship of 1984 (ages 13-14) while at the same time, Tiger Woods won the age 9-10 category.

Els would see these men again on the golf course but he would have plenty of golf to play before doing so.  Els won his first professional tournament in 1991 and his first major title, the U.S. Open, in 1994.  Els has distinguished himself as a winner of 3 major championships, 3 time European Tour Player of the Year and two consecutive finishes as the top money receiver on the European tour.  Els has won the World Match Play Championship a record seven times and has been in the top-10 world ranked golfers for over 750 weeks.

In addition to golf, Els has designed and opened several golf courses and launched his own wine company in South Africa.  Els has made the most of his fame and success by opening the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation.  This foundation helps those with potential in golf get ahead by providing help with finances, advice, support and etceteras for them in Life.  Els also contributes heavily to autism research as his son has autism.  Els has enjoyed a successful run and has many more years ahead of him earning money on the tour and giving back to society.