Ernie Els
(Els)
Height: 6'3" (1.91 m)
Weight: 210 (95 kg)
Age: 54 (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 ChampionshipCareer High Official World Golf Rank:
#1 : 1998 Kemper OpenCareer Largest Paycheck:
$1,405,890 : 2012 The Open Championship (Finished 1)2022-23 Season Highlights
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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. Mitsubishi Electric Classic - Notched his fifth top-10 of the season with a T10 finish at the Mitsubishi Electric Classic. Shot 68-68 on the first two days before closing with 72. Regions Tradition - With a final-round 7-under 65 to finish T2 at 17-under 271, collected a third top-5 finish in as many starts at Greystone Golf & Country Club (T4/2021, T3/2022, T2/2023). Principal Charity Classic - Collected his seventh top-10 finish of the season with a T9 at the Principal Charity Classic. Posted 71-65-68. American Family Insurance Championship - Highlighted by four consecutive birdies on Nos. 13-16, opened the American Family Insurance Championship with a 3-under 69. Ensuing rounds of 67-72 resulted in solo-10th at 8-under 208. DICK'S Sporting Goods Open - In his third start at the DICK’S Sporting Goods Open, bettered an opening-round 5-under 67 at En-Joie Golf Club with a 7-under 65 to claim a share of the 36-hole lead at 12-under 132. Lone bogey of the week came on the final hole in the final round. The 4-under 68 resulted in solo-third at 16-under 200, his second top-3 finish (2021/2nd) in his third start at the DICK’S Sporting Goods Open. Kaulig Companies Championship - Notched his 10th top-10 and fourth top-3 of the season in his first 14 starts with a T3 finish at the Kaulig Companies Championship. Posted scores of 68-67-70-68. Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS - Posted rounds of 71-68-69 at the Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS en route to a T4 finish. Marked his fifth top-5 of the 2023 season. SAS Championship - The 2020 SAS Championship winner finished T3 at 11-under for his sixth top-5 of the season in 20 starts. Dominion Energy Charity Classic - Seeking a third-consecutive top-10 finish in as many starts at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, posted scores of 70-68-70 to finish T7 at 8-under 208. Extended his streak of par-or-better rounds at The Country Club of Richmond to a perfect nine. TimberTech Championship - Finished T4 at the TimberTech Championship for his 14th top-10 in 22 starts in 2023. Carded 65 in the second round, along with bookend 70s.
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: | 484 | 1581 | 19 | 17 | 18 | 126 | 217 | 373 | 105 | 7 | $49,385,600 | ||
| 2023 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 238 | $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 | |
| 2023 | CUT | ||||||||
| 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.