Four-time Major winning Ernie Els confessed just a week prior to his Open Championship defence that if it were not for golf he would be selling hot dogs on a South African beach.
Els returns to Muirfield early next week to defend his Open Championship at Muirfield and where he first claimed golf’s oldest Major when the tournament was last staged in 2002 on the course to the east of Edinburgh.
The 43-year old South African will not only be looking to capture a third (British) Open but become the first player since Nick Faldo in 1992 to win back-to-back (British) Open championships at Muirfield.
And while Els has also captured 65 other victories around the world since turning pro in 1989, he spoke of the longevity golf has presented him.
Defending Open Champion Ernie Els reveals if it were not for golf he would be selling hot dogs on a South African beach. (Photo – www.golffile.ie)
“Well you are not going to find it in rugby, that is what makes golf so great, we are the only sport anywhere where you can compete as a 40 something and at times beat 20 something’s,” said Els.
“It is a wonderful sport that we play, and if it wasn’t for golf I would be selling hotdogs on the beach but I have golf and I can compete and win.
“So I am looking forward to the future, and you know, after, maybe at 55, I will go and sell some hotdogs at Herolds Bay.”
Els last year came from six shots behind Australia’s Adam Scott to post a final round 68 to claim victory by a stroke after Scott had bogeyed his final four holes in a score of 75.
Eleven years earlier, Els overcame the elements and three players – Frenchman Thomas Levet and the Australian pair of Steve Elkington and Stuart Appleby – to win in a play-off.
It was second time in three Majors Els had reigned supreme after having to play extra holes.
“It was funny back in 2002 because I played good golf at the start of the year and then my game kind of left me, at the US Open at Bethpage that was brutal,” he said.
“I worked on my game with David Leadbetter and we worked our behinds off to get my swing back in shape, so Muirfield is a course where you can’t hide, it is a true test, you got to have your driving, your iron play, your short game and your putting, everything, so it is just, you know, you have got to have your wits with you.
“It was one of those great tests that I really love and luckily I had my game, I found my game so to speak, basically it was a last minute thing, on the Wednesday I found something in my swing with ‘Lead’ and I went with it so it was kind of fortunate.”
And as Els heads into his 23rd straight Open Championship since making his debut as the then South African Stroke-Play Amateur champion, he has given up thoughts of a fifth Major title in his 83rd Major.
“I have been around a while since I turned pro just after the air force back in 1989 when I was 20, so I am 43 now going on 44,” he said.
“I am probably on the third stage of my career but who cares, I feel, I really believe that I have a couple of majors left and I can keep going.
“I have got everything sorted, all my business dealings and all that stuff so I can concentrate and play golf.
“I have nothing stopping me. It is sport that is finicky and funny but I will give it as good a shot as I can.”
Muirfield will play an extra 158-yards longer than in 2002 while new tees have been added at seven holes taking the overall distance from 7,034 yards when Els won 11 years ago to 7,192 yards.
“I got my first look since 2002 a few weeks back and actually this course will still frighten the guys, especially when you get on the first tee because you don’t see much else than the rough,” said Els.
“There is a strip of fairway down there somewhere, but it is very fair. They have lengthened some of the holes including the ninth hole which is a great par 5 now, so you really got to thread your drive down there and out of bounds comes in to play.
“There is quite a few holes on the back nine that have been lengthened , the 18th comes to mind, it has had about 30 yards to it while the 17th has had about 30 yards added to it so that it a hell of a par 5 now.
“The 14the is lengthened, 11 lengthened, quite a few holes lengthened, but with technology now everything is fair, honestly the guys will have a great time.”
