Very few people in the world can accurately tell you what it takes to win the Open Championship, but Ernie Els is one of the elite group that can.
As we head to Royal Portrush, every player in the field will be doing all they can to take home the Claret Jug – something the Els achieved twice in his illustrious career.
Els is a golfer that I still love to watch, so while I am saddened by his withdrawal from the 153rd Open Championship, I was pleased to stumble across this fantastic column in a previous issue of Golf Monthly magazine.
In an enlightening discussion with Evin Priest, the four-time Major winner shared his blueprint for success on the links…
How To Win The Open Championship: Ernie Els Major Blueprint
Ernie Els
Ernie Els is a two-time Open Champion, winning the Claret Jug in 2002 and 2012. The South African also won the US Open on two occasions and amassed an impressive 19 PGA Tour and 27 European Tour wins in his career. Els was also inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.
You can trust a two-time Champion Golfer of the Year to sum up what it takes to be the last man standing at golf’s oldest and most prestigious championship. Ask Ernie Els and the South African great laughs and almost rolls his eyes.
“Wow, where do I start? There is a lot going on at The Open,” Els tells Golf Monthly.
“The weather conditions are just something else. You’re trying to win a Major and compete with the best players in the world on a links course at the same time. Links golf is not only different from the other Majors, but it’s different from England to Scotland, even.”
“A lot going on” is an accurate way to describe The Open. There was certainly a lot going on when Els lifted his first Claret Jug – and third Major trophy – at the 2002 Open at Muirfield.
There were so many layers to the 131st Open that Els takes a moment when asked to choose the defining moments.
Ernie Els won his first Open Championship in 2002 at Muirfield Links
(Image credit: Getty Images)
After a pause, he has an answer. Namely, the pivotal third round on Saturday. Tiger Woods was washed out of contention while Els roared to life.
Woods had become the first golfer since Jack Nicklaus in 1972 to win The Masters and US Open…
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