Ernest Theodore Els or “ Big Easy ” as he is affectionately known in the sporting circles was born on 17 October 1969, in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was the second born child of Neels and Hettie Els. At school Els was very sporty but golf was his first love. In 1984 age 14, Els rose to prominence, when he won the Junior World Championship in the Boys category of 13-14 years at San Diego, California, United States. The very same year he was awarded his junior springbok colours. Three years later he was awarded the State President Sports Award. In 1988, he was awarded his full springbok colours. In December of the same year he married his childhood sweetheart, Liezl Wehmeyer at a glittering ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa.

Els turned professional in 1989 and immediately made an impact in the golfing circles with his natural talent and his swinging method was a marvel to watch by the golf lovers. He made golf looked so easy by his style of play, hence the nickname “ Big Easy ”. He is the most likeable golfer around the globe as he does not chose his matches according to their status and countries, and this often puts him with the Professional Golfers Association of America as they want him to put theirs as a top priority. Between 1991 and 2004 Els has numerous Professional Golfers Association (PGA) victories under his name. On 26 May 1996, he was blessed with a baby girl named Samantha Leigh and on 6 October 2002 his second child Ben was born. 

Els has a golf course design business a charitable foundation which supports golf among underprivileged youngsters in South Africa, and a highly-regarded wine-making business. Currently, he resides in Wentworth, England and has a house in George, Cape Town.

Curriculum vitae

ELS' PGA TOUR Victories

1994 - U.S. Open Championship

1995 - GTE Byron Nelson Golf Classic

1996 - Buick Classic

1997 - U.S. Open Championship, Buick Classic

1998 - Bay Hill Invitational

1999 - Nissan Open

2000 - The International

2002 - Genuity Championship, 131st Open Championship

2003 - Mercedes Championships, Sony Open in Hawaii

2004 - Sony Open in Hawaii, Memorial Tournament, World Golf Championships American Express Championship.

ELS' PGA European Tour Victories

1994 - Dubai Desert Classic, Toyota World Matchplay Championship

1995 - Lexington South African PGA, Toyota World Matchplay Championship

1996 - Toyota World Matchplay Championship

1997 - Johnnie Walker Classic

1998 - South African Open

1999 - Alfred Dunhill South African PGA

2000 - Standard Life Loch Lomond

2002 - Heineken Classic, Dubai Desert Classic, 131st Open Championship

2003 - Heineken Classic, Johnnie Walker Classic, The Barclays Scottish Open, Omega European Masters, HSBC World Matchplay Championship.

2004 - Heineken Classic

2004 - HSBC World Matchplay Championship

Other Victories

1989 - South African Amateur Stroke Play Championship

1991 - Amatola Sun Classic

1992 - Protea Assurance SA Open, Lexington SA PGA Championship, SA Masters, Hollard Royal Swazi Sun Classic, First National Bank Players Championship, Goodyear Classic.

1993 - Dunlop Phoenix

1995 - Bells Cup

1996 - Philips SA Open

1997 - PGA Grand Slam of Golf

1999 - Nedbank Million Dollar Challenge

2000 - Nedbank Golf Challenge

2001 - Vodacom Players Championship

2002 - Nedbank Golf Challenge

2004 – Nelson Mandela Golf Challenge

References

• Joyce, P. (1999).
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