Friday 9 January 2015 07:02, UK
Ernie Els remains "driven by competition" as he prepares to launch his 2015 campaign at this week's South African Open Championship.
The five-time champion is honoured to be tournament host and ambassador for his national championship at Glendower Golf Club on the outskirts of Johannesburg, where his fellow major winners Charl Schwartzel and Retief Goosen are also teeing up.
Els first won the tournament in 1992, less than three years after joining the professional ranks, and he edged out Goosen by a single shot to claim his fifth crown at the start of the 2011 European Tour season.
The 45-year-old is determined to bounce back from a disappointing 2014 season on both sides of the Atlantic, and he insists he will be giving his all in his quest to add to his career tally of 67 victories worldwide.
Despite having many obligations in the run-up to this week's event, Els was kind enough to spare some time for a Q&A session with Sky Sports Golf in which he outlined his hopes and aspirations for the year ahead.
Els revealed he had enjoyed some social golf at his home in Herold's Bay on the southern coast of South Africa over the festive season rather than take a complete break from golf.
"I actually find it very hard to put the clubs away for more than a few days," he said. "As usual at this time of the year we were at our house in Herold’s Bay, my favourite place in the world, and playing plenty of social golf.
Sharp
"I have some very competitive friends - with some generous handicaps, shall we say (laughs) - and we play for a bit of cash. It’s fun and it helps keep me sharp during some time off.”
Competition is what still drives me; it’s in my blood. Any time you lift a trophy it’s a wonderful moment
Els has been one of the most-travelled golfers in the world over the last 20 years as he maintains the required schedules for both the European and PGA Tours, and he has no intention of making a significant reduction to his playing commitments in 2015.
He said: “This year’s schedule is still a bit of a work in progress, but that’s normal for me at this early stage of the season. Obviously I have my favourite events every year, and then there are the majors, so we tend to build everything around those weeks as well as making sure we’re at the Presidents Cup in Korea later in the year.
"We might play a couple fewer tournaments than last year; we’ll see. But we’re not looking at any significant changes.
"My targets and priorities for the year ahead remain the same as ever. Competition is what still drives me; it’s in my blood. Any time you lift a trophy it’s a wonderful moment so I want to keep working hard, keep giving it 100 per cent, to try to experience that again and hopefully win one or two more majors before I’m done.
"Even just saying those words gets the juices flowing," added Els, who had no hesitation in accepting the offer to act as tournament host and ambassador at Glendower this week.
“It’s an honour," he said. "The South African Open means a lot to me, as it does to all South African golfers. Whatever successes we might have around the world, none of us ever forgets the incredible start we had in our careers by being able to play in tournaments such as this.
Prestigious
"We all want it back where it belongs, among the game’s most prestigious tournaments, and I am delighted to be able to give my full support to achieving this. I have no doubt that my fellow countrymen who play on the European and PGA Tours feel the same way. It’s exciting for everyone who loves the South African Open.
"It will also be nice to return to Glendower after all these years. It’s a beautiful old parkland course with a nicely balanced risk-reward flavour and great bunkering. I’m really looking forward to playing there again.”
Els is also impressed with the abundance of young talent that has emerged in recent years, and he believes the new generation of golfers are blessed with remarkable confidence to back up their abilities.
“One of the things about the modern game - and I mean this in the global sense - is some of these young kids aren’t afraid to win," said the four-time major winner. "Look around and there’s a whole bunch of players with plenty of game; they’re hungry and they’re not short of confidence. That’s how you’ve got to be in order to make that breakthrough.”
In addition to his busy playing schedule, Els and his wife Liezl are also heavily involved in his Els For Autism Foundation, which they launched in 2009 after their son, Ben, was affected by the disorder.
Proud
"I'm very proud of it, yes," Els said. "My wife Liezl deserves an enormous amount of credit because she’s been the driving force behind Els for Autism.
"She’s been amazing and, with the support of our partners and sponsors, and the thousands of competitors and donors in the Els for Autism Golf Challenge, we’ve made incredible progress."
Ernie and Liezl are now excited by the development of the Els Center of Excellence, which is currently under construction in Florida and will benefit children and adults who suffer from autism.
"Five years ago the Els Center of Excellence was really just a dream, but we broke ground on site last March and that dream is now becoming a reality. We’re so excited.
“The focus is on the Center of Excellence, which will be a leading example of what should be available to people with autism spectrum disorders. Once completed, the Center will provide a uniquely designed on-site educational program for 300 children on the autism spectrum ages 3-21.
"It will also bring together the critical components of early intervention, transition to adulthood, medical and professional services, and adult services all on one campus. At its heart will be a global outreach program that will make best practices in education and therapy available to children, families and autism experts all around the world.
"In South Africa we now also have the first international link to the Center of Excellence, the Els Centre for Autism in Johannesburg, and they’re already doing some great work there, too.”
Ernie and Liezl Els are rightly proud of their foundation. Find out how their hard work has benefitted so many by visiting www.elsforautism.com.
