PGA Grand Slam of Golf: Ernie Els

PGA GRAND SLAM OF GOLF APPEARANCES: 1994, 1997 Champion, 2010
MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP WINS: 1994, 1997 U.S. Open; 2002 Open Championship
WORLDWIDE VICTORIES: 62
BIRTHDATE: Oct. 17, 1969
BIRTHPLACE: Johannesburg, South Africa
RESIDENCE: Jupiter, Fla.
FAMILY: Wife: Liezl; Children: Samantha (1999), Ben (2002)
SPECIAL INTERESTS: Movies, reading, sports
TURNED PROFESSIONAL: 1989

By Bob Denney, Special to PGA.com

One of the world’s most gifted golfers, Ernie Els continues to demonstrate to us all what it means for any professional athlete to carry on the promise of dreams by tackling the often momentous challenges affecting the health and happiness of one’s family.

The likable native of Johannesburg, South Africa began playing golf at age 9 only after becoming an accomplished tennis player, and developed an enviable syrupy-smooth golf swing. That swing and its results earned him the affectionate “Big Easy” nickname, while his natural talent guided him to 62 worldwide victories -- including two this year -- three major championships, and induction in May 2011 into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Yet, it is Els’ quest to capture one “major” off the course that elevates his legacy to a new echelon among his contemporaries.

Three years ago, life changed for Ernie Els and his wife, Liezl, when doctors confirmed that their son, Ben, then 5, was autistic. To be more specific, Ben suffers from Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), which, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) “ cause severe and pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to relate to others.”

The Elses, who also have a healthy 11-year-old daughter, Samantha, are united in the fight against ASD -- which affects one in 110 children, or 67 annually diagnosed with the disease. The Elses are devoting their energy to promoting research and raising public awareness as the NIH reports that more children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with AIDS, diabetes, and cancer combined.

In 2008, Ernie and Liezl moved their family from England to Jupiter, Fla., in order that Ben could attend the Renaissance Learning Center, one of two schools The Autism Project of Palm Beach County administers. The Elses were so impressed that their mission began to help the project achieve its goal of creating an ASD facility.

In the spring of 2009, the Elses established the Els for Autism Foundation, with the mission of generating fundraising for the Center of Excellence, a world-class, 100,000-square foot facility. Ernie and Liezl have committed $6 million and raised an additional $4.6 million. A total of $30 million is needed. The plan, which includes an adjoining research complex, will provide cutting-edge education for children ages 3 to 21; along with therapy and research in the autism spectrum.

“People will remember me as a major champion,” says Els, the 1994 and ’97 U.S. Open and 2002 Open Champion, “But hopefully when I’m forgotten as a player, I’d like also to be remembered as somebody who took this autism research and did something with it. I think I have a lot of time left. The rest of my life I’ll be fighting this thing.”

The message Els has for us all speaks volumes about his commitment.

“We want people to know that we are working on the problem,” says Els. “We want them to know the signs they should be looking for and how they are going to deal with it emotionally. We want the guy in the street to know that we have exactly the same problems.”

The Center of Excellence project follows Els’ earlier philanthropic efforts through The Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation, which was established in 1999 to identify talented young South Africans predominantly from families of limited resources and provide them with educational and life-skill assistance and playing opportunities in order to produce successful, well-rounded and educated young golfers. The Foundation joined forces with the world-renowned Fancourt Hotel and Golf Estate in 2006 to establish the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation (EEFF).

Els’ playing career also has enabled him to brand himself in golf course design. His handiwork now appears in eight countries and five continents. Els also is owner of a vineyard in South Africa; and has ownership of The Big Easy, a restaurant which opened in 2008 in Stellenbosch, 30 miles east of Cape Town. One of the signature label wines served is, of course, the Big Easy, which was launched in 2006.

Els’ business acumen and success pales in his focus at home.

“I realized how lucky we are,” says Ernie. “We have a teacher for Ben. I have weeks off where I can spend time with Ben. Can you imagine fathers -- and the families –- who don’t have that? Those are the people I really feel for. Those are the people I want to help.”

This story appears courtesy of the 2010 PGA Grand Slam of Golf Official Journal.