Editors note: Ernie Els had a long-standing relationship with Arnold Palmer. They met in 1992 and stayed very close through the years. Els won twice at that Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard in 1998 and 2010. Els is one of three players to win each of the PGA TOUR’s elevated events: The Genesis Invitational, the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide and the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. The other two are Fred Couples and Hale Irwin. Els sat down with PGATOUR.COM at the PGA TOUR Champions’ Cologuard Classic to discuss his relationship with Palmer and his success at Bay Hill. PGATOUR.COM: What was your relationship like with Arnold Palmer? ELS: Well, Mr. Palmer has been just an unbelievable gentlemen to me. We met in 1992, we played at the PGA Championship in Bellerive. That was kind of his farewell in those days. I was just coming on the scene. I was 22 years old. I think he was 62 years old or something like that, we just had a ball, we talked and he was warm to me. I was obviously in awe of him. And we had two great days at Bellerive. And that particular day, he invited me (to the Arnold Palmer Invitational). No matter what happened he says, ‘You’re playing in the Invitational next year, 1993.’ And then he paired himself with me in 1993, and that particular year he made the cut. I remember, the weather was awful, he hit driver on 18 and then hit another driver off the fairway onto the green and then two-putted to make the cut, it was an unbelievable moment. And then I got to win the tournament twice, so we’ve just had a great relationship over the years and he’s just been awesome to us and our family. PGATOUR.COM: What is your memory of your first win in 1998 at Bay Hill? ELS: We played 36 holes on a Sunday. It was Tiger Woods, Davis Love III and myself and we were No. 1, 2, 3 in the world. After 36 holes, I prevailed, I won somehow. I won the tournament and became No. 1 in the world on that day. I’ll never forget that for a long time. PGATOUR.COM: How special is the API as it relates to showcasing international players? ELS: Because of Mr. Palmer’s play in The Open Championship, he really put that tournament on television in the United States. I mean, he was the biggest player in the world at that time and for him to play in the British Open and win it twice, I think he won it in 1961 and 1962, and it was televised, he really put The Open Championship on the map and for many American players to go over there. And for that reason, The Open Championship has really become an Open with everybody being able to play over there. And it’s because of Mr. Palmer. And he’s done the same with the Arnold Palmer Invitational where he’s invited people from all over the world, all walks of life to come and play at his tournaments. He’s really a man for the world, you know, a wonderful guy. PGATOUR.COM: It sounds like he means a lot to you. ELS: Absolutely. Each win I had – the second win was a morning finish on a Monday – but obviously in 1998 I was in a very good mood becoming No. 1, myself and Liezl, my wife, we sat in the men’s grill with Mr. Palmer, having a couple celebrating the win. He was just a man’s man, I loved him.
Ernie Els reflects on relationship with Arnold Palmer
Growing a bit tired of sports betting? Your favorite team isn’t playing? Go and have some fun at our partner site and check some Freeroll Slots Tournaments! Guaranteed fun for hours and USA players are accepted. |
1st Round 3-Balls – J. Leonard / S. Ames / P. Harrington | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Padraig Harrington | +105 |
Stephen Ames | +170 |
Justin Leonard | +330 |
1st Round 3-Balls – S. Alker / R. Goosen / E. Els | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Steven Alker | -105 |
Ernie Els | +230 |
Retief Goosen | +260 |
1st Round 3-Balls – M.A. Jimenez / J. Kelly / P. Broadhurst | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jerry Kelly | +160 |
Miguel Angel Jimenez | +160 |
Paul Broadhurst | +220 |
1st Round 3-Balls – V. Singh / K.J. Choi / D. Toms | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
David Toms | +130 |
K.J. Choi | +170 |
Vijay Singh | +250 |
1st Round 3-Balls – C. Montgomerie / A. Cejka / D. Clarke | |
Type: 1st Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Cejka | +120 |
Darren Clarke | +170 |
Colin Montgomerie | +280 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – M. Kim / A. Noren / J. Lower | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | +100 |
Justin Lower | +185 |
Michael Kim | +300 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – K. Chappell / T. Pendrith / K. Yu | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Pendrith | +120 |
Kevin Yu | +160 |
Kevin Chappell | +300 |
2nd Round Six-Shooter Group B – J. Spieth / J. Day / A. Noren / T. Hoge / T. Kim / K. Mitchell | |
Type: 2nd Round Six-Shooter – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | +375 |
Alex Noren | +400 |
Jason Day | +400 |
Tom Hoge | +425 |
Tom Kim | +475 |
Keith Mitchell | +500 |
2nd Round Match-Up – K. Yu vs T. Pendrith | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Pendrith | -120 |
Kevin Yu | +100 |
2nd Round Match-Up – A. Noren vs J. Day | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Alex Noren | -110 |
Jason Day | -110 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – C.T. Pan / M. Trainer / G. Sigg | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Greyson Sigg | +130 |
C T Pan | +140 |
Martin Trainer | +320 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – R. Palmer / P. Kizzire / B. Taylor | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Ryan Palmer | +120 |
Patton Kizzire | +145 |
Ben Taylor | +330 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – B. Garnett / T. Hoge / D. Berger | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Tom Hoge | +110 |
Daniel Berger | +175 |
Brice Garnett | +300 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – M. Wallace / K. Kisner / C. Champ | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Wallace | +115 |
Cameron Champ | +135 |
Kevin Kisner | +400 |
2nd Round Match-Up – K. Mitchell vs T. Hoge | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Keith Mitchell | -110 |
Tom Hoge | -110 |
2nd Round Match-Up – C. Champ v D. Berger | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Daniel Berger | -130 |
Cameron Champ | +110 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – C. Villegas / T. Kim / M. Hughes | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Tom Kim | -105 |
Mackenzie Hughes | +140 |
Camilo Villegas | +500 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – V. Norrman / S. Cink / M. Kuchar | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Matt Kuchar | +150 |
Vincent Norrman | +165 |
Stewart Cink | +220 |
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Spieth v T. Kim | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | -130 |
Tom Kim | +110 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Day / J. Spieth / S. Noh | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jordan Spieth | +115 |
Jason Day | +135 |
SY Noh | +400 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – N. Echavarria / C. Reavie / K. Mitchell | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Keith Mitchell | -105 |
Nico Echavarria | +200 |
Chez Reavie | +300 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – M. Hubbard / M. NeSmith / D. Ghim | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Doug Ghim | +145 |
Mark Hubbard | +165 |
Matt NeSmith | +225 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – N. Lashley / A. Baddeley / M. Schmid | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Nate Lashley | +135 |
Matti Schmid | +160 |
Aaron Baddeley | +250 |
2nd Round Match-Up – N. Lashley vs M. Schmid | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Nate Lashley | -120 |
Matti Schmid | +100 |
2nd Round Match-Up – M. McNealy vs D. Ghim | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Maverick McNealy | -120 |
Doug Ghim | +100 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – K. Streelman / B. Wu / R. Shelton | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brandon Wu | +160 |
Robby Shelton | +160 |
Kevin Streelman | +210 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Hahn / Z. Blair / T. Montgomery | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Taylor Montgomery | +150 |
Zac Blair | +175 |
James Hahn | +200 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – M. McNealy / J. Bramlett / B. Kohles | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Maverick McNealy | +135 |
Joseph Bramlett | +175 |
Ben Kohles | +225 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – B. Martin / C. Hadley / C. Tarren | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chesson Hadley | +150 |
Ben Martin | +165 |
Callum Tarren | +215 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – R. MacIntyre / T. Crowe / P. Fishburn | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Robert MacIntyre | +130 |
Patrick Fishburn | +190 |
Trace Crowe | +220 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – Z. Dou / C. Gotterup / R. Pereda | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Chris Gotterup | +110 |
Zecheng Dou | +175 |
Raul Pereda | +300 |
2nd Round Match-Up – C. Gotterup v M. Greyserman | |
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN | |
Max Greyserman | -125 |
Chris Gotterup | +105 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Bridgeman / B. Hale / M. McGreevy | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jacob Bridgeman | +105 |
Max McGreevy | +145 |
Blaine Hale Jr | +400 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – J. Stanger / M. Meissner / R. McCormick | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Jimmy Stanger | +150 |
Mac Meissner | +160 |
Ryan McCormick | +225 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – T. Olesen / W. Furr / P. Kuest | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Thorbjorn Olesen | +140 |
Peter Kuest | +160 |
Wilson Furr | +240 |
2nd Round 3-Balls – A. Smotherman / S. Valimaki / B. Hopfinger | |
Type: 2nd Round 3-Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Sami Valimaki | +145 |
Austin Smotherman | +160 |
Brad Hopfinger | +225 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – L. Herbert / L. Oosthuizen / E. Lopez-Chacarra | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Louis Oosthuizen | +110 |
Lucas Herbert | +160 |
Eugenio Lopez-Chacarra | +320 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – D. Johnson / M. Leishman / A. Meronk | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Dustin Johnson | +160 |
Adrian Meronk | +175 |
Marc Leishman | +190 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – G. McDowell / B. Steele / T. Gooch | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Talor Gooch | +100 |
Brendan Steele | +180 |
Graeme McDowell | +320 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – S. Munoz / T. Pieters / B. Koepka | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Brooks Koepka | +110 |
Sebastian Munoz | +210 |
Thomas Pieters | +230 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – K. Na / D. Burmester / J. Niemann | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Joaquin Niemann | +110 |
Dean Burmester | +160 |
Kevin Na | +325 |
2nd Round 3 Balls – C. Tringale / A. Ancer / M. Kaymer | |
Type: 2nd Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN | |
Abraham Ancer | +110 |
Cameron Tringale | +170 |
Martin Kaymer | +300 |
Scottie Scheffler Specials | |
Type: Scottie Scheffler Specials – Status: OPEN | |
Win Any Remaining Signature Event | -200 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) | +115 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +125 |
US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +135 |
All Remaining Signature Events – Top 10 Finish | +200 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +200 |
US Open (Top 5 Finish) & The Open (Top 5 Finish) | +210 |
PGA Championship (Top 10 Finish) & US Open (Top 10 Finish) & The Open (Top 10 Finish) | +240 |
PGA Championship (Top 5 Finish) & US Open (Top 5 Finish) | +280 |
Win 2 Remaining Signature Events | +450 |
Click here for more… | |
PGA Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Xander Schauffele | +2000 |
Bryson DeChambeau | +2500 |
Collin Morikawa | +2500 |
Max Homa | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
Rory McIlroy – RBC Canadian Open Winner | +1000 |
Miles Russell – Win a Major before 30th birthday | +3500 |
Scottie Scheffler & Nelly Korda – Win All Remaining 2024 Majors | +50000 |
US Open 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +350 |
Jon Rahm | +1200 |
Rory McIlroy | +1200 |
Ludvig Aberg | +1600 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Viktor Hovland | +2000 |
Brooks Koepka | +2500 |
Cameron Smith | +2500 |
Patrick Cantlay | +2500 |
Xander Schauffele | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
The Open Championship 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
Scottie Scheffler | +500 |
Jon Rahm | +1000 |
Rory McIlroy | +1000 |
Viktor Hovland | +1100 |
Brooks Koepka | +2000 |
Cameron Smith | +2000 |
Cameron Young | +2000 |
Collin Morikawa | +2000 |
Ludvig Aberg | +2000 |
Jordan Spieth | +2500 |
Click here for more… | |
Requests | |
Type: Requests – Status: OPEN | |
The Open Championship – Alex Noren – Top 20 Finish | +200 |
Solheim Cup 2024 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -140 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1200 |
Ryder Cup 2025 | |
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN | |
USA | -135 |
Europe | +135 |
Tie | +1000 |