Ernie Els

Ernie Els hall of fame

(Els)

Height: 6'3" (1.91 m)
Weight: 210 (95 kg)
Age: 53 (October 17, 1969)
Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
Residence: West Palm Beach, Florida
Family: Wife, Liezl; Samantha, Ben

Special Interests: Movies, reading, sports
Turned Professional: 1989
City plays from: South Africa


Exempt Status


PGA TOURPast champion

Career Victories


PGA TOUR Victories (19):
1994 (1) U.S. Open Championship. 1995 (1) GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic. 1996 (1) Buick Classic. 1997 (2) U.S. Open Championship, Buick Classic. 1998 (1) Bay Hill Invitational. 1999 (1) Nissan Open. 2000 (1) The International Presented by Qwest. 2002 (2) Genuity Championship, The Open Championship. 2003 (2) Mercedes Championships, Sony Open in Hawaii. 2004 (3) Sony Open in Hawaii, the Memorial Tournament, World Golf Championships-American Express Championship. 2008 (1) The Honda Classic. 2010 (2) World Golf Championships-CA Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. 2012 (1) The Open Championship.
PGA TOUR Champions Victories (3):
2020 (2) Hoag Classic, SAS Championship. 2023 (1) Hoag Classic.
International Victories (47):
1991 Amatola Classic [SAf]. 1992 Protea Assurance South Africa Open [SAf]. 1992 Lexington PGA Championship [SAf]. 1992 South African Masters [SAf]. 1992 Hollard Royal Swazi Sun Classic [SAf]. 1992 First National Bank Players' Championship [SAf]. 1992 Goodyear Classic [SAf]. 1995 Lexington South African PGA Championship [SAf]. 1995 Bells Cup [SAf]. 1996 South African Open [SAf]. 1998 South African Open [SAf]. 1999 Alfred Dunhill PGA Championship [SAf]. 1999 Sun City Nedbank Challenge [SAf]. 2000 Nedbank Challenge [SAf]. 2001 Vodacom Players Championship [SAf]. 2002 Nedbank Challenge [SAf]. 2007 South African Airways Open [SAf]. 2010 South African Open [SAf]. 1993 Dunlop Phoenix [Jpn]. 1994 Dubai Desert Classic [Eur]. 1994 Toyota World Match Play Championship [Eur]. 1994 Johnnie Walker World Championship [Eur]. 1995 Toyota World Match Play [Eur]. 1996 Toyota World Match Play [Eur]. 2000 Standard Life Loch Lomond Open [Eur]. 2002 Heineken Classic [Eur]. 2002 Dubai Desert Classic [Eur]. 2002 Cisco World Match Play [Eur]. 2003 Heineken Classic [Eur]. 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic [Eur]. 2003 The Barclays Scottish Open [Eur]. 2003 Omega European Masters [Eur]. 2003 HSBC World Match Play Championship [Eur]. 2004 Heineken Classic [Eur]. 2004 HSBC World Match Play Championship [Eur]. 2005 Dubai Desert Classic [Eur]. 2005 Qatar Masters [Eur]. 2005 BMW Asian Open [Eur]. 2005 Alfred Dunhill Championship [Eur]. 2007 HSBC World Match Play Championship [Eur]. 2013 BMW International Open [Eur]. 1997 Johnnie Walker Classic [Aus].
Other Victories (6):
2010 PGA Grand Slam of Golf. 2001 World Golf Championships-EMC World Cup [with Retief Goosen]. 1998 Dunhill Cup [with David Frost and Retief Goosen]. 1997 PGA Grand Slam of Golf. 1997 Dunhill Cup [with David Frost and Retief Goosen]. 1996 World Cup [with Wayne Westner].

Player Statistics


Career Low Round:

61 - 1995 GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic (Round 2)

Career High FedExCup Rank:

#1 : 2010 PGA Championship

Career High Official World Golf Rank:

#1 : 1998 Kemper Open

Career Largest Paycheck:

$1,405,890 : 2012 The Open Championship (Finished 1)

2022-23 Season Highlights


PGA TOUR Champions
Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai - Notched his third top-10 in four starts at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai with a T6 after rounds of 66-68-66. Chubb Classic - Notched his fourth consecutive top-10, dating back to the 2022 season, with a T10 finish at the Chubb Classic. Opened with 7-under 65 before posting 72-70 on the weekend. Hoag Classic - Rallied from five strokes back in the final round to win the Hoag Classic for his third victory on PGA TOUR Champions. Was his second win at the event (2020). Shot 65-65 on the weekend after opening with 70. Birdied two of his last three holes during a bogey-free final round. Insperity Invitational - Notched his fourth top-10 of the season with a T6 at the Insperity Invitational. Posted 68-70-72.

National Team Selections


Presidents Cup : 1996, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013 World Cup : 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2001 Dunhill Cup : 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

Career Records


PGA TOUR (Playoff Record: 4 - 4)
Season Events Rounds 1st 2nd 3rd Top 10 Top 25 Cuts Made Cuts Missed WD FedExCup Rank Earnings
Total: 483 1579 19 17 18 126 217 373 104 7 $49,385,600
2023 1 4 1 232 $46,200
2022 1 2 1
2021 1 2 1
2020 2 6 1 1 234 $18,673
2019 18 49 1 9 7 2 182 $304,590
2018 15 40 5 9 1 209 $102,868
2017 20 52 7 11 2 213 $155,926
2016 21 66 1 2 12 9 163 $559,024
2015 18 57 3 10 8 173 $453,579
2014 24 79 3 7 18 6 41 $1,799,569
2013 19 62 1 7 14 5 68 $1,173,761
2012 22 78 1 1 5 9 19 3 26 $3,453,118
2011 21 69 1 6 16 5 67 $948,872
2010 20 70 2 2 7 13 17 3 9 $4,558,861
2009 19 66 1 7 10 16 3 16 $2,147,157
2008 16 50 1 1 5 7 11 5 13 $2,537,290
2007 16 58 1 2 5 10 15 1 19 $2,705,715
2006 18 64 1 8 11 18 $2,326,220
2005 11 44 1 1 5 8 11 $1,627,184
2004 16 58 3 2 1 10 12 15 1 $5,787,225
2003 17 60 2 7 14 17 $3,371,237
2002 18 62 2 7 14 17 1 $3,291,895
2001 19 60 1 5 9 11 15 4 $2,336,456
2000 20 68 1 5 2 10 15 20 1 $3,469,405
1999 18 60 1 1 1 7 10 16 2 $1,710,756
1998 15 48 1 4 8 12 2 1 $763,783
1997 19 62 2 1 7 11 15 4 $1,243,008
1996 18 65 1 1 6 11 17 1 $906,944
1995 18 60 1 1 2 6 10 14 4 $842,590
1994 11 38 1 1 4 6 10 1 $684,440
1993 6 12 1 1 2 4 $38,185
1992 3 6 2 1 $18,420
1991 1 1 $2,647
1990 1 2 1
(A) - Amateur

Top Tournaments


PGA TOUR
THE PLAYERS Championship Masters Tournament PGA Championship U.S. Open The Open Championship WGC-HSBC Champions WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play WGC-FedEx St. Jude Inv WGC-Workday Championship at The Concession
2022 CUT
2021 CUT
2019 CUT T32
2018 CUT CUT
2017 CUT 53 CUT T55 61
2016 T64 CUT T66 CUT CUT
2015 T66 T22 T25 T54 T65 T46
2014 T72 CUT T7 T35 CUT T11 4 T26 T52
2013 CUT T13 CUT T4 T26 T33 T48 T28
2012 CUT T48 9 1 T2 T17 T45
2011 CUT T47 CUT CUT CUT T33 T17 T37 T15
2010 CUT T18 T18 3 CUT T6 T17 T22 1
2009 T45 CUT T6 CUT T8 2 T5 T29 T20
2008 T6 CUT T31 T14 T7 T33 T27 75
2007 T37 CUT 3 T51 T4 T33 T22 T11
2006 T8 T27 T16 T26 3 T33 T31 5
2005 T17 47 T15 T34 DNS DNS
2004 T26 2 T4 T9 2 (P) T65 1
2003 T6 T5 T5 T18 T33 T17 T12
2002 T44 T5 T34 T24 1 (P) T17 T15 T23
2001 CUT T6 T13 T66 T3 4 T8
2000 T20 2 T34 T2 T2 T17 T12 W/D
1999 T17 T27 CUT CUT T24 T33 5 T40
1998 T11 T16 T21 T49 T29
1997 T10 T17 T53 1 T10
1996 T8 T12 T61 T5 T2
1995 T68 CUT T3 CUT T11
1994 T45 T8 T25 1 (P) T24
1993 CUT CUT T7 T6
1992 CUT T5
1989 CUT
FedExCup Playoffs
FedEx St. Jude Championship Dell Technologies Championship BMW Championship TOUR Championship
2014 T5 T50 T16
2013 CUT T20 T51
2012 T54 T26 T28 27
2011 T32 T16 T42
2010 71 T30 T13 T7
2009 T2 CUT T38 9
2008 CUT T3 T17 T6
2007 T4 T18 T26

Personal


  • Started playing golf at age 9.
  • An accomplished junior tennis player, he won the Eastern Transvall Junior Championships at age 13. Turned full attention to golf at age 14 after also playing cricket, soccer and rugby.
  • Hosts Ernie Els Invitational in South Africa to raise money for charity. The Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation formed in early 1999, with the purpose of providing full support to disadvantaged children. Proceeds from the Ernie Els Invitational go to four charities and the Foundation.
  • Established the Els for Autism Foundation in spring 2009, with son, Ben, who is autistic, the driving force behind the mission. Opened the first components of The Els Center of Excellence on August 17, 2015. The Center, based in Jupiter, Fla., serves local, national and international autism communities and aims to be a game-changing resource in the field.
  • Was named the 2015 Payne Stewart Award recipient.
  • In December 1998, received lifetime membership on European Tour. Other non-Europeans so honored are Bob Charles, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.