Els to play and host SA Open
Ernie Els has accepted the role as host and ambassador of the South African Open Championship in 2015.
The event will tee off at the Glendower Golf Club in January and the benefits will go to the Els for Autism and Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation charities, and Paddy Power has all your betting options covered.
“I am very honoured to have been offered this role and accepted without hesitation as the South African Open Championship is a tournament with incredible history and has featured strongly throughout my career,” said the four time major champion on supersport.com.
“I look forward to working together with the Sunshine Tour to achieve our shared vision of growing the SA Open, so that it can once again take its rightful place among the most prestigious tournaments in world golf. Whatever successes South African golfers have enjoyed around the world, none of us forgets the incredible start we had in our careers by having tournaments like the SA Open to play in on the Sunshine Tour.
“It is therefore imperative that we do our best to ensure that South Africa’s flagship events are sustainable for generations to come 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 and I look forward to them joining me in working towards these goals.”
Meanwhile, Selwyn Nathan, the executive director of the Sunshine Tour, was happy the South African legend excepted the role.
“We are very excited that Ernie has accepted the role, which we are sure will go a long way to re-establishing golf’s second-oldest national championship as one of the world’s flagship events,” said Nathan.
“Ernie’s commitment to the Sunshine Tour has been unwavering throughout his stellar career and we are very grateful that he has reaffirmed this commitment to professional golf in South Africa by helping us to grow our national Open.”
Head on over to Paddy Power to get a headstart on your betting options in the new year.
Latest
-
NewsEngland’s Laurie Canter sets halfway target at PGA Championship
Canter carded eight birdies and two bogeys in a second round of 66 to post a halfway total of 11 under par.
-
NewsAdam Scott happy to be back at Wentworth after encouraging opening round
Scott carded eight birdies and a solitary bogey to finish seven under par on Thursday.
-
NewsAdam Scott produces impressive first round on return to Wentworth
The Australian was contesting one of the European Tour’s flagship events for the first time since 2006.
-
NewsBrendan Lawlor pushing to prove Para-golf worth playing at Paris Paralympics
Disability golf was turned down for a place at the 2024 Games but world number one Lawlor still hopes it can be reinstated.
-
NewsShane Lowry aware he might need a Ryder Cup wild card from Padraig Harrington
The former Open champion has a precarious grip on an automatic qualification place.
-
NewsSteve Stricker admits he ‘lost sleep’ over Patrick Reed’s Ryder Cup omission
Reed has revelled in the nickname of “Captain America” since being the leading American points scorer on his 2014 debut.
-
NewsShane Lowry delighted with Open return to Royal Portrush in 2025
The tournament two years ago attracted a crowd of 237,750 throughout the week.
-
NewsOpen to return to Royal Portrush in 2025 following successful hosting in 2019
The event had a popular winner in Irishman Shane Lowry two years ago, and also attracted a crowd of 237,750 throughout the week.
-
NewsPadraig Harrington relishing dramatic finale in race for Ryder Cup spots
At least a dozen players are capable of forcing their way into the team at the BMW PGA Championship.
-
News‘It’s someone else’s turn’ – Catriona Matthew not staying on as Solheim captain
The Scot led Team Europe to a 15-13 triumph over the United States in Ohio on Monday.