(Note: This Biofile was done with Ernie Els at the Westchester Country Club one week after his 1997 U.S. Open win.)
Status: Pro golfer. Winner of 1994 and 1997 U.S. Open and 2002 and 2012 British Open. Former World #1 ranked golfer.
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 210
DOB: October 17, 1969 In: Johannesburg, South Africa
Childhood Heroes: “Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Sam Snead.”
Nicknames: “Elsie, Easy, Cousin, The Big Easy.”
Pre-Competition Feeling: “A bit of nervousness comes in. I think nervous is a good thing. Sometimes it keeps you on your toes. It keeps you bright. You need to be a little nervous too. If you’re not nervous, I think you take it too easy. You need to be on attention.”
Greatest Sports Moment: “Obviously, I would say the U.S. Open (1997). I would say the (five-foot) putt on Sunday was probably the highlight of my life. The five-footer I made. Present, now, I feel like Sunday, 1994 was also special. That’s a tough question, but…”
Most Painful Moment: “Quite a few. I’d say Jeff ‘Squeaky’ Medlin (Nick Price’s caddy) passed away. So, not a very good moment. And always missing a cut is not a good moment [laughs].”
Favorite Movies: “So many. Laurence of Arabia, Godfather movies, Kingpin.”
Musical Tastes: “Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Rolling Stones, Wallflowers.”
First Job: “Pro golfer.
First Car: “Volkswagen Beetle, 1968. (Color?) Light blue.”
Funny Golf Memory: “When I was a youngster I had a bit of a temper. Amateur as a youngster, I hit a bad shot and I threw my club up and my club got stuck up in the tree. My dad (Cornelius) had to come and get it out. And I got the club back about two hours later [smiles] (age 16).”
Favorite Meal: “Pasta, meatballs.”
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: “Vanilla.”
Favorite Breakfast Cereal: “Honey Puffs or full English breakfast.”
Toughest Competitors: “I would say Greg Norman, Nick Faldo, Tiger Woods, Tom Lehman, Colin Montgomerie, so many [laughs].”
Closest Friends In Golf: “Nick Price, Frank Nobilo, Fulton Allem, David Frost.”
Favorite Athletes To Watch: “Steffi Graf. Michael Jordan. Brian Mitchell. Evander Holyfield. Karl Malone. John Stockton. Shaq. Mario Lemieux. Mark Messier. Eric Lindros. Darren McCarty. Ken Griffey Jr. Frank Thomas. Greg Maddux. Mark McGwire.”
Topics: Breakfast Cereal, Childhood Heroes, Ernie Els, Faldo Tiger Woods, Frank Nobilo, Full English Breakfast, Greatest Sports, Highlight Of My Life, Jack Nicklaus, Johannesburg South Africa, Laurence Of Arabia, Nick Faldo, Nick Faldo Tiger Woods, Painful Moment, Pro Golfer, Sam Snead, Sports Moment, Tom Lehman, Volkswagen Beetle, Westchester Country Club
Ernie Els Biofile | 