Ernie Els is a former World No.1 with 80 professional victories to his name, including four Major Championships, one Senior Major, two World Golf Championships and a record seven World Matchplay titles.

Away from the golf course, Ernie has transcended his sport by virtue of his groundbreaking charitable endeavours. Ernie and his wife Liezl founded The Els for Autism Foundation in 2009, which led to the opening of The Els Center of Excellence, a world-class site hosting leading-edge programs and services for individuals with autism. In addition, Ernie founded The Ernie Els Foundation in South Africa in 1999, delivering educational assistance and golfing opportunities to young individuals predominantly from families of limited resources. Listed among its former members are tournament winners Louis Oosthuizen, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Thriston Lawrence.

Ernie’s increasingly diverse range of business interests successfully encompass golf course design and hospitality, an award winning wine portfolio created by Ernie Els Wines in South Africa, an innovative range of pet products, and a student-athlete recruitment program.

Ernie registered a fifth top-5 finish in his last seven starts at last week's SAS Championship at Prestonwood CC. Ernie, a winner of the event in 2020, closed with a fine 68 in tough conditions to finish at 6-under par and runner-up. It places Ernie fourth on the money list moving into the Charles Schwab Cup playoffs starting in Richmond, Virginia, on October 17. The season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship will be played at Phoenix CC, Arizona, from November 13-16.

Away from the tournament scene, Ernie used the previous week off to pay a visit to Bridgesong in Blanchard, Oklahoma, a world-class resort-destination where an Ernie Els Design golf course is under construction. It is expected to open for play in 2027.