Ernie Els elected in the World Golf Hall of Fame
The South African golfer Ernie Els got selected in the World Golf Hall of Fame yesterday at the East Lake Golf Club. With 62 Global victories, Ernie has been elected to the Hall of fame in his first year on the ballot. Four other players will accompany Els
in St. Augustine, Florida where the celebrated lot will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on May 9 2011.
Ernie Els has various accomplishments linked to his name. He has 18 PGA Tour victories including the 1994 and 1997 US Open Championships and the 2002 British Open. According to Els, his triumph at the 1994 US Open at Oakmont was one of the most brilliant
moments of his career. He had a three-way playoff victory that included American Loren Roberts and Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie. This victory was very special to him and his homeland since it came in the same year Nelson Mandela got elected as president, a
significant year for South Africa. About his win in 1994, Els calls it his defining moment. From being a young professional from South Africa to winning the US open, he says it has been a comfortable ride since then.
This year, the three time major winner, has been victorious twice on the 2010 PGA Tour and is also eligible for the elite 30 strong field competing for the Tour Championship set to tee off at East Lake today.
He got sixty-six percent of the votes from a panel of golf dignitaries, Hall of Fame Members and a panel of journalists. The news came as quite as a surprise to Ernie, former world number one, who thought that one had to be a bit more senior to be selected.
The threshold age to be selected is forty and Ernie is the only player who has been selected at this age.
"You'd like to think you could have done more and can still do more, but obviously I'm very, very honoured to be inducted. Obviously this makes the year, it makes you feel very good about what you've done", beamed the forty year old to reporters. "I've had
a lot of achievements and I've won a lot of golf tournaments, especially worldwide. So for a boy from South Africa, that's kind of nice”.
Ernie’s selection was acknowledged by fellow South African golfer Gary Player, who is himself a nine time major winner. Player thinks that Ernie is really worthy of this recognition. He said Ernie is an ambassador for the sport and a credit to the game.
Accompanying Ernie in the hall of fame are the late Jock Hutchison, Doug Ford, and former American President George H.W. Bush. The fifth member of the Hall of Fame’s class of 2011 will be announced in October. As of right now, Ernie is the only South African
Golfer because all the others are American.
Hutchison and Ford were selected through the Veteran’s category. Jock Hutchison, who passed away in 1977 at the age of 93, had won 14 PGA events. His famous victories include the 1920 PGA Championship and the 1921 British Open. Born in Scotland, Hutchison
became a U.S citizen in 1920.
Doug Ford has been a former PGA and Masters Champion. He has been victorious 18 times on the US PGA Tour and was player of the year in 1955.
Former President Bush was picked through the Life Achievement Category. He really helped raise the profile of golf during and after his time in office.
The golfing community has recognized the 41st US president over the years. He has also received the 1997 PGA of America Distinguished Service Award, the 2009 PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement and the USGA’s 2008 Bob Jones Award. Bush served as the
honorary chairman of The Presidents Cup in 1996. After this honour, Bush has attended every President’s Cup since then.
All of the golfers now in the hall of fame truly earned this honour. Their accomplishments and contributions to the sport of golf are unforgettable.
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