Ernie Els is now at peace with South African friends and fellow golfers who have joined LIV Golf.
Els states that they have lost the camaraderie with Charl Schwartzzel, Branden Grace, and Louis Oosthuizen. It’s different. I still have friendships with them.
Many South African golfers consider Els a mentor. However, Els has been a great coach to others who have reached the top of their game. Ernie and Liezl Els lived with Schwartzel for two years when he moved to Jupiter, Florida 13 years ago. Ernie and Liezl hosted a celebration when Grace won the 2016 RBC Heritage PGA Tour event.
Els believes that he could have been an asset to his friends when they made career-defining decisions.
Els expressed disappointment that they didn’t ask for my opinion about the decision to quit the PGA Tour and sign up for LIV. I had them in the foundation (in South Africa) and looked after them like children. They flew with us, they stayed in my home. They were nurtured to the PGA Tour.
“It was just done in a way that I didn’t like.”
Els said last week that he had watched his proteges play on “real tours” and “did the real thing.” “I haven’t seen one shot since joining LIV.”
Els stated that LIV was “wrong” and said that they had “upended a lot the good things the game stands for.” The whole thing is just not right.”
Els still understands why his friends took money, and acknowledges that they are financially successful. Schwartzel won LIV’s inaugural event, and earned more that $8 million in the last season. Oosthuizen took home $5.4 million.
Grace won the U.S. Open and earned nearly $17million in just six months. In 14 years of being a professional on the PGA Tour, Grace earned $12.3 million.
Els stated that being an international player and living abroad, it can be difficult to move to South Africa with your family to participate in the PGA Tour. “So, I understand that. “But for me, no.”
Els is occasionally seen with Grace but no longer sees Schwartzel. She also has lost touch with Oosthuizen.
Els stated, “We have made peace.”
LIV ignored Els suggestions
Representatives of the league financed from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund met Els to discuss their plans before players began leaving the PGA Tour. Els, who is a professional golfer with 74 wins including four majors and was inducted into The World Golf Hall of Fame in 2011, wasn’t sure that a season-long team model would work. He had other ideas. Els suggested partnering with the PGA Tour and European Tour as well as the Tour Champions and other players to create a “Formula 1” format.
Els told them that they could play all over the world, play team golf, and get a television network to buy it. Then they would return to their respective tours and continue living.
“I think that would’ve been a cool approach. Although he didn’t finish the sentence, I believe that a whole year of team-golf gets ….” Els. Let’s just say that he doesn’t like the idea.
Their reaction.
Els stated that “they didn’t see it this way” and that they showed me the door very early.
LIV’s business model is based on team golf. 48 players are divided into 12 four-man groups with 54-hole, no-cut events.
LIV has announced a TV deal with the CW Network. Now, LIV will be focusing on securing Official World Golf Ranking points to its players. LIV, which is starting its second season in Mexico this week, applied last July for ranking points. However, the OWGR board usually requires one to two years to receive an application from a tour in order to reward points to players who participate in its events. LIV is not guaranteed anything after that.
Els stated that there is no way to give ranking points. They’re playing team golf. They claim it’s all about team-golf.
“How can you even give that serious thought? This is not a stroke-play tournament, it’s a team event that has 48 players. They will not be able to rank.
