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.

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 biltong company.

A victory and five top-5s from seven starts is the story of Ernie’s Champions Tour season to date, a consistent spell of play that adds up to a cumulative 80-under par and a current scoring average of 68.04. It places him in third position on the Charles Schwab Cup Money List. Away from the tournament scene, in the space of little more than a month Ernie paid site visits to three spectacular new Ernie Els Design golf courses on three different continents - The Els Club Vilamoura in Portugal (pictured right), Zimbali Lakes in South Africa and Oleada Golf Links on Mexico’s captivating Baja Peninsula.