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Ernie Els’s full name is Theodore Ernest Els. His nickname is the Big Easy due in large to his smooth golf swing and imposing height. He is 6ft 3 inches and has an imposing well built stature. Ernie grew up in Lambton in South Africa. He played a number of sports to a good standard. These included rugby, tennis, cricket and of course golf. He won a number of junior championships at tennis, so could easily have proceeded down that route.
By the age of 14, Ernie was a scratch handicap golfer. This is the age when he decided to focus purely on golf. He won his first major Junior tournament in 1984. This was the Junior World Championship in the aged 13-14 category. He has achieved 71 professional career wins. Included within these victories are four major championships. He won the US Open ins 1994 and 1997 and the Open Championship in 2002 and 2012.
Els was the first member of the European Tour to earn over 25 million Euros. He has been number one in the Official World Golf Rankings and was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2010.
Els got married to Lieze in 1998 in Cape Town. They have two children, Samantha and Ben. His son his autistic which is the reason he displays an ‘Autistic Speaks’ logo on his golf bag. His family live between Wentworth Estate near Wentworth Golf Club, South Africa and Florida.
