Theodore Ernest Els, a former World No. 1 and South African professional golfer, has always helped to promote South Africa around the world. He has won 71 matches in his professional career, including two US Open and two Open titles.
Biography of Ernie Els
Ernie Els was born on October 17. 1969. He went by the name Teddy. His coworkers used to refer to him as The Big Easy.
He formerly held the title of the best golfer in the world. He is one of the select few athletes to have twice won the US Open and the Open Championship.
Only five other golfers have ever accomplished it. Over 66 victories in his career. He took home four major titles. Although he was active till 2012, his prime years are regarded as 94 to 2002.
| Real Name | Theodore Ernest Els |
| NickName: | Ernie, The Big Easy |
| Birth Place: | Johannesburg, South Africa |
| Date Of Birth/Birthday: | 17 October 1969 |
| Age/How Old: | 52 years old |
| Height/How Tall: | In Centimetres – 191 cm In Feet and Inches – 6′ 3″ |
| Weight: | In Kilograms – 95 kg In Pounds – 210 lbs. |
| Eye Colour: | Blue |
| Hair Colour: | Blonde |
| School: | N/A |
| College: | N/A |
| Religion: | N/A |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Zodiac Sign: | Libra |
| Gender: | Male |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Kids/Children Name: | Ben Neels Els, Samantha Leigh Els |
| Profession: | South African golfer |
| Net Worth: | $95 Million |
Early Life of Ernie Els
Els grew up enjoying sports. He participated in rugby, tennis, and cricket games. He won the Eastern Transvaal Junior Championships when he was 13 years old as a junior tennis player.
His father, who worked at a golf facility, sparked his passion in the game. Before he turned 14 years old, he was already a scratch handicap thanks to the principles of the game that his father had taught him. This piqued his interest in golf more, and he decided to focus entirely on it.
Ernie Els won the South African Amateur Championship and the Boys 13–14 division of the Junior World Golf Championship before turning 17 years old.
Age of Ernie Els
He was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on October 17, 1969. As of 2019, he is 50 years old.
Height of Ernie Els
Els is 6 feet, 3 inches tall (1.91 m). His flowing golf swing and commanding physical presence earned him the moniker “The Big Easy”.
Family of Ernie Els
Neels and Hettie Els gave birth to Ernest. Ernie learned the game of golf from his father, Neels, who worked as a trucking executive at the Germiston Golf Club. Dirk Els is the name of his brother.
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Ernie Els’ Spouse
Liezl Els is the spouse of Els. On December 31, 1998, they exchanged vows in Cape Town. Ben Neels Els and Samantha Leigh Els are Ernie and Liezi’s children.
Due to the fact that their son Ben has autism, the former World No. 1 and his wife have demonstrated tremendous support for raising awareness of the condition.
In the south of England, they reside on the Wentworth Estate next to the Wentworth Golf Club. They also visit South Africa and the US occasionally.
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Career
Els had a breakthrough year in 1997, winning his second U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club (again defeating Colin Montgomerie), becoming the first foreigner to do so since Alex Smith (1906, 1910). He expanded his winning streak by winning the Johnnie Walker Classic in addition to defending his Buick Classic crown.
Els fell against Vijay Singh in the World Match Play Championship final, almost missing out on a fourth straight victory. Els continued to have excellent years in 1998 and 1999 with 4 victories on both the PGA and European tours.
Els received a unique accolade from the European Tour Board of Directors at the beginning of 2000 in the form of an honorary life membership in recognition of his two U.S. Open victories and three World Match Play victories.
Els had a year of second-place finishes in 2000, with seven second-place finishes in international competitions and three second-place finishes in the Majors (Masters, U.S. Open, and The Open Championship). Els finished the year with nine second-place finishes despite failing to win a US PGA Tour tournament for the first time since 1994.
Els’ greatest year was perhaps 2002, which began with a victory at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club’s Heineken Classic. Afterward, he traveled to America where he defeated Tiger Woods, the world’s top player, to win the Genuity Championship.
His victory at the Open Championship in extremely challenging conditions at Muirfield was undoubtedly the highlight of the season. Els beat four other competitors in a playoff to win the coveted Claret Jug trophy for the first time, assuaging those who had questioned his mental toughness.
The South African dominated a field of elite players and prevailed by 8 shots to win his third Nedbank Challenge and fourth World Match Play Championship in the previous four years.
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Ernie Els Salary
Els is thought to be worth $85 million. His primary source of income is from playing golf.
