We’re a day later than usual with this week’s report, as we wanted to include a story on the 7th Els for Autism Pro Am, which took place on Monday at beautiful Old Palm in Florida. We thank the whole team there for being such wonderful hosts.
The weather was perfect and we had our strongest ever turnout of top tour pros, featuring world number one Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Nick Price, Keegan Bradley, Retief Goosen, Jordan Spieth, Will McGirt, Louis Oosthuizen, Cameron Tringale, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Raymond Floyd (who designed Old Palm), Will MacKenzie, Thomas Aiken, Rory Sabbatini, Luke Donald, Brooks Koepka, Lucas Glover, Jason Dufner, KJ Choi and our winner this year Ian Baker-Finch. Seriously, what a line-up. We had 12 major champions in the field with a total of 42 majors between us. It was a bit like a satellite gathering of the World Golf Hall of Fame!
Obviously, massive thanks to all of the professionals, amateurs and companies who generously supported this year’s Pro Am and to Ketel One who sponsored the hole-in-one shootout for the pros. Thanks also to our partners, Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado, and to Tim Rosaforte and the rest of the guys at the Golf Channel for covering the day and helping spread awareness for our cause.
We’ve raised an enormous amount for Els for Autism in the seven years that we’ve been playing this Pro Am, which is incredible and also very humbling at the same time. Hence the number of thank you messages from me in this report, which I hope you’ll forgive.
Anyway, moving on, I’m very much looking forward to getting back into the swing of tournament golf at this week’s Valspar Championship. I’ve played at Innisbrook a few times over the years, both in the early 2000s when this was a late season event and also in its current guise as part of the early-season Florida Swing. In 2012 I really feel like I should have won this tournament. Still, the important thing is I like this golf course, with its big undulating greens, rolling terrain and famous ‘Snake Pit’, one of the TOUR’s toughest closing three-hole stretches. My game feels strong on the practice ground. It’s time to take this form on to the golf course and get my season properly up and running.
Finally, there are a couple more items of news. Just want to say congrats to my buddy Dustin Johnson on a great win at Trump Doral. It’s so great to see Dustin back in the winner’s circle, exactly where someone of his immense talent belongs.
Congrats also to Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation member Jovan Rebula on his great performance in making it through to the final of last week’s Sanlam South African Amateur Championship at Silver Lakes Golf Estate. Of course, it would have been wonderful if Jovan could have added his name to the trophy…the very same trophy that I won what seems like a lifetime ago! But we’re so proud of him. He’s young and the experience he’s gained at this level will stand him in good stead and ultimately make him a better player.
And the thing is, Jovan’s runner-up spot last weekend is just one of many great performances from some of our Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation members in recent months, not least Bianca Theron, Zethu Myeki, Siyanda Mwandla, Lwazi Gqira who have all been playing wonderful golf and excelling in the classroom, too. We’re proud of all of them for the way they’re seizing their opportunities. To catch up on all their latest news, please just click here.
Okay, that’s it from me. Follow me on Twitter @TheBig_Easy.
