Profile and Career Wins
Ernie Els has 78 professional career victories to his name, including four Major Championships, two World Golf Championships and a record seven World Matchplay titles.
He has triumphed in tournaments in South Africa, Europe, the US, Asia, the Far East, the Middle East and Australasia. Ernie was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011 and the South African Golf Hall of Fame in 2009.
Ernie was born in South Africa on 17 October 1969. As a youngster, he was outstanding in cricket, rugby and tennis. At the age of 13 he won a significant regional tennis event, the Eastern Transvaal Junior Championships. A year later aged 14 Ernie won the World Junior Golf Championship in San Diego, California. Ernie was just 16 years old when he formally competed against professional golfers. He was awarded his Junior Springbok colours in 1984, the State President Sports Award in 1987, and in 1988 his full Springbok colours. Ernie turned professional in 1989.
Ernie’s business interests successfully encompass golf course design and hospitality, including The Els Club Collection, Els Performance Golf Academy, Els Club Estates and Big Easy Winebar & Grill, along with an award winning wine portfolio created by Ernie Els Wines in the heart of South Africa’s wine country, Stellenbosch. In recent years Ernie has also launched his own pet products business and a range of authentic, traditional Biltong.
Ernie has uniquely transcended his sport by virtue of his groundbreaking charitable endeavors and fundraising. The Els for Autism Foundation was established in 2009 by Ernie, his wife Liezl, and Marvin R. Shanken. The Foundation serves families around the world, and also offers in-person programs and services at The Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, Florida, a world-class, 26-acre campus that is home to three separate non-profit organizations: The Els for Autism Foundation, The Learning Center, and The Learning Academy.
Ernie’s other great philanthropic passion is The Ernie Els Foundation which operates in South Africa, established in 1999 to identify and assist young individuals predominantly from families of limited resources and to deliver to them educational assistance and golfing opportunities. Among its former members are 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen and multiple DP World Tour winners Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Branden Grace.
Career Wins
2024
Principal Charity Classic, Wakonda Club, Des Moines, Iowa
62, 68, 65: 195, 21-under par
American Family Insurance Championship, University Ridge GC, Wisconsin
71, 64, 69: 204, 12-under par
1990 - 2023
2023
The Hoag Classic, Newport Beach CC, California
70, 65, 65: 200, 13-under par
2020
The Hoag Classic, Newport Beach CC, California
66, 64, 67: 197, 16-under par
SAS Championship, Prestonwood CC
70, 68, 66: 204, 12-under par
2013
BMW International Open, Golfclub München Eichenried, Germany
63, 69, 69, 69: 270, 18-under par
2012
THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, Royal Lytham & St Annes GC, England
67, 70, 68, 68: 273, 7-under par
2011
South African Open, Durban CC, South Africa
65, 65, 64, 63: 257, 25-under par
2010
WGC – CA Championship, Doral, Florida
68, 66, 70, 66: 270, 18-under par
Arnold Palmer Invitational, Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Florida
68, 69, 69, 71: 277, 11-under par
PGA Grand Slam of Golf, Port Royal GC, Bermuda
68, 69: 137, 5-under par
2008
Honda Classic, PGA National GC, Florida
67, 70, 70, 67: 274, 6-under par
King Hassan II Trophy, The Royal Golf Dar Es Salam, Morocco
69, 67, 71, 68: 275, 17-under par
2007
South African Airways Open, Humewood GC, South Africa
67, 66, 66, 65: 264, 24-under par
HSBC World Matchplay Championship, Wentworth Club, England
Beats Angel Cabrera in final, 6&4, Ernie’s seventh World Match Play title
2006
Dunhill Championship, Leopard Creek CC, South Africa
71, 67, 68, 68: 274, 14-under par
2005
Dubai Desert Classic, Emirates GC, Dubai
66, 68, 67, 68: 269, 19-under par
Qatar Masters, Doha GC, Qatar
73, 69, 69, 65: 276, 12-under par
BMW Asian Open, Thomson Shanghai Pudong GC, China
67, 62, 68, 65: 262: 26-under par
2004
Sony Open in Hawaii, Waialae CC, Hawaii
67, 64, 66, 65: 262, 18-under par
Heineken Classic, Royal Melbourne GC, Australia
60, 66, 68, 74: 268, 20-under par
Memorial Tournament, Muirfield Village GC, Ohio
68, 70, 66, 66: 270, 18-under par
WGC – American Express Championship, Mount Juliet GC, Ireland
69, 64, 68, 69: 270, 18-under par
HSBC World Match Play Championship, Wentworth Club, England
Beats Lee Westwood in final, 2&1, Ernie’s sixth World Match Play title
Nelson Mandela Invitational, Arabella Golf Estate & CC, South Africa
64, 66: 130, 14-under par (partnered with Vincent Tshabalala)
2003
Mercedes Championship, Kapalua CC, Hawaii
64, 65, 65, 67: 261, 31-under par (PGA TOUR 72-hole record score)
Sony Open in Hawaii, Waialae CC, Hawaii
66, 65, 66, 67: 264, 16-under par
Heineken Classic, Royal Melbourne GC, Australia
70, 72, 66, 65: 273, 15-under par
Johnnie Walker Classic, Lake Karrinyup CC, Australia
64, 65, 64, 66: 259, 29-under par
Barclays Scottish Open, Loch Lomond GC, Scotland
64, 67, 67, 69: 267, 17-under par
Omega European Masters, Crans-sur-Sierre GC, Switzerland
65, 69, 68, 65: 267, 17-under par
HSBC World Match Play Championship, Wentworth Club, England
Beats Thomas Bjorn in final, 4&3, Ernie’s fifth World Match Play title
2002
Heineken Classic, Royal Melbourne GC, Australia
64, 69, 69, 69: 271, 17-under par
Dubai Desert Classic, Emirates GC, Dubai
68, 68, 67, 69: 272, 16-under par
Genuity Championship, Doral, Florida
66, 67, 66, 72: 271, 17-under par
THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP, Muirfield GC, Scotland
70, 66, 72, 70: 278, 6-under par (wins four-man, four-hole playoff against Thomas Levet, Steve Elkington and Stuart Appleby)
Nedbank Golf Challenge, Sun City Resort, South Africa
70, 65, 69, 63: 267, 21-under par
Cisco World Match Play Championship, Wentworth Club, England
Beats Sergio Garcia in final, 2&1, Ernie’s fourth World Match Play title
2001
World Cup of Golf, Taiheiyo GC, Japan
with Retief Goosen 64, 71, 63, 66: 264, 24-under par
Vodacom Players Championship, Royal Cape GC, South Africa
70, 68, 70, 65: 273, 15-under par
2000
The International, Castle Pines, Colorado
48 points in modified stableford format (joint-highest score in the tournament’s 20-year history)
Nedbank Golf Challenge, Sun City Resort, South Africa
66, 67, 67, 68: 268, 20-under par
Standard Life Loch Lomond Tournament, Loch Lomond GC, Scotland
69, 67, 69, 68: 273, 11-under par
1999
Alfred Dunhill South African PGA Championship, Houghton GC, South Africa
67, 69, 69, 68: 273, 15-under par
Nissan Open, Riviera CC, California
68, 66, 68, 68: 270, 14-under par
Nedbank Golf Challenge, Sun City Resort, South Africa
67, 66, 64, 66: 263, 25-under par
1998
South African Open, Durban CC, South Africa
64, 72, 68, 69: 273, 15-under par
Bay Hill Invitational, Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Florida
67, 69, 65, 73: 274, 14-under par
Dunhill Links Championship, The Old Course St Andrews, Scotland
South African team of Els, David Frost and Retief Goosen win in matchplay format over four days
1997
Johnnie Walker Classic, Hope Island GC, Australia
70, 68, 71, 69: 278, 10-under par
US OPEN, Congressional CC, Bethesda, Maryland
71, 67, 69, 69: 276, 4-under par
Buick Classic, Westchester CC, New York
64, 68, 67, 69: 268, 16-under par
PGA Grand Slam of Golf, Poipu Bay Resort GC, Hawaii
68, 65: 133, 11-under par
Dunhill Links Championship, The Old Course St Andrews, Scotland
South African team of Els, David Frost and Retief Goosen win in matchplay format over four days
1996
South African Open, Royal Cape GC, South Africa
65, 70, 74, 66: 275, 13-under par
Buick Classic, Westchester CC, New York
65, 66, 69, 71: 271, 13-under par
Toyota World Matchplay Championship, Wentworth Club, England
Beats Vijay Singh in final, 3&2, Ernie’s third World Match Play title
Johnnie Walker Super Tour Event, played on multiple venues across Asia
67, 71, 71, 65: 274, 14-under par
World Cup of Golf, Erinvale GC, South Africa
with Wayne Westner (Ernie also wins individual title 68, 72, 65, 67: 272, 16-under par)
1995
GTE Byron Nelson Classic, TPC Four Seasons Resort & Cottonwood Valley GC, Texas
69, 61, 65, 68: 263, 17-under par
Toyota World Matchplay Championship, Wentworth Club, England
Beats Steve Elkington in final, 3&1, Ernie’s second World Match Play title
Bells Cup, Fancourt Golf Club, South Africa
69, 67, 69, 70: 275, 13-under par
Lexington South African PGA Championship, Wanderers GC, South Africa
65, 71, 71, 64: 271, 9-under par
1994
Dubai Desert Classic, Emirates GC, Dubai
61, 69, 67, 71: 268, 20-under par
US OPEN, Oakmont CC, Pennsylvania, USA
69, 71, 66, 73: 279, 5-under par (Ernie shoots 74 in Monday’s 18-hole three-way playoff with Colin Montgomerie and Loren Roberts, then defeats Roberts after two holes of sudden-death, to win his first Major)
Toyota World Matchplay Championship, Wentworth Club, England
Beats Colin Montgomerie in final, 4&2, Ernie’s first World Match Play title
Johnnie Walker World Championship, Tryall GC, Jamaica
64, 64, 71, 69: 268, 16-under par
Sarazen World Open (inaugural), Chateau Elan G&CC, Atlanta, Georgia
67, 73, 68, 65: 273, 15-under par
1993
Dunlop Phoenix Tournament, Phoenix Country Club, Japan
68, 69, 65, 69: 271, 17-under par
1992
Protea Assurance South African Open, Houghton GC, South Africa
65, 69, 69, 70: 273, 15-under par
Lexington South African PGA Championship, Wanderers GC, South Africa
69, 66, 65, 71: 271, 9-under par
South African Masters, Dainfern CC, South Africa
67, 70, 71, 67: 275, 13-under par
Hollard Royal Swazi Sun Classic, Royal Swazi Sun CC, South Africa
74, 67, 64, 64: 269, 19-under par
First National Bank Players Championship, Royal Johannesburg GC, South Africa
68, 68, 65, 69: 270, 18-under par
Goodyear Classic, Humewood GC, South Africa
71, 69, 69, 67: 276, 12-under par
1991
Amatola Sun Classic, King Williams Town GC, South Africa
70, 72, 67: 209, 4-under par
1990
Spoornet SA Classic, Kimberley Golf Club, South Africa
Highveld Classic, Witbank Golf Club, South Africa
Teams
Alfred Dunhill Cup: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 (winners), 1998 (winners), 1999 & 2000
World Cup: 1992, 1993, 1996 (individual and team winners), 1997 & 2001 (winners)
Presidents Cup: 1996, 1998 (winners), 2000, 2003, 2007, 2009, 2011 & 2013
Individual Record: Played 40, Won 20, Lost 18, Halved 2.
Ernie captained the Internationals at the 2019 Presidents Cup in Australia.
World Champions Cup: 2023 (playing captain)
Career Stats Highlights
- Ernie holds the record for the most consecutive weeks inside the Top-10 of the Official World Golf Ranking (758 weeks between 19 June 1994 and 11 January 2009).
- With a T7 finish at the 2019 Maybank Championship, Ernie became the first player to record 300 career Top-10 finishes since the inception of the Official Golf World Ranking in 1986.
- Ernie holds the record for the most consecutive cuts made on the European Tour (82, from the 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic to the 2007 Johnnie Walker Classic).
- Holds the European Tour record for the lowest first 36-hole total relative to par (18-under par, 2004 Heineken Classic).
- Holds jointly the European Tour record for the lowest first 54-hole total relative to par (23-under par, 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic).
- Holds the European Tour record for the lowest 72-hole total relative to par (29-under par, 2003 Johnnie Walker Classic).
- Holds jointly the European Tour record for the largest 36-hole lead (seven shots, 1994 Mercedes German Masters and 2004 Heineken Classic).
- Holds jointly the European Tour record for the most birdies in one round (12, 1994 Dubai Desert Classic).
- Shot a career lowest round (60, 12-under par, 2004 Heineken Classic at Royal Melbourne).
- Twice No.1 on the European Tour Order Race to Dubai (2003, ’04).
- Three times European Tour Player of the Year (1994, ’02, ’03).
- PGA Tour Rookie of the Year (1994).
- 19 career hole-in-ones, most recent at The Pure Championship in 2020.
- Ernie has represented South Africa in professional team golf on 22 occasions: 9 Dunhill Cups, 5 World Cups and 8 Presidents Cups (International Team).
- Ernie holds the all-time record for number of rounds in the 60s at the Open Championship, a total of 42.
- Ernie was the first man in history to shoot all four rounds in the 60s in an Open Championship, a feat he achieved at Royal St George’s in 1993. He then did it again at Troon in 2004.
Majors
4
World Golf Championships
2
World Matchplay Titles
7
78
Professional
Career Wins
Off the Golf Course
For his charitable endeavours Ernie has received many awards:
Charlie Bartlett Award by the Golf Writers Association of America.
Jefferson Award, essentially a Nobel Prize for Public Service, for outstanding athlete in service.
Named one of the ‘Top Five Most Positive Athletes in the World’ by the United Nations NGO Voting Academy.
Golf Foundation Spirit of Golf Award for his achievements as a player, for his contribution to golf and commitment to young people in golf and education.
Metropolitan Golf Writers Association (MGWA) Winnie Palmer Award for his foundation work on behalf of autism. The MGWA had previously conferred on Ernie its prestigious Gold Tee Award.
Eighth recipient of the Denver-based Nicholson Award for ‘a lifetime commitment and dedication to the game of golf’.
Ernie was also voted the ‘Golf Course Designer of the Year’ at the 2015 World Golf Awards.
Payne Stewart Award in 2015.
Heisman Humanitarian Award 2017 in recognition of work for autism.
Old Tom Morris Award 2018 from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
Jim Murray Award 2018 from the Golf Writers Association of America.
Receives the Arnold Palmer Open Award presented by the Association of Golf Writers at the 2018 Open Championship.
In 2020 accepts Honorary Membership of the R&A.
In 2023 receives the Francis Ouimet Award in recognition of his contribution to golf and the community through his philanthropic endeavors, notably the Els for Autism Foundation.
