Ernie Els opens up about his feelings for fellow South Africans joining LIV Golf

As a mentor, Ernie Els expresses his frustration and disappointment for the great divide in golf.

Ernie Els opens up about his feelings for fellow South Africans joining LIV Golf

Credits: Golf.com

The schism between LIV Golf and PGA Tour has created a series of contention, thus building a bridge between the golfers in the community. Friendships and comradeship have all been in vain as some players migrated to the rebel golf circuit funded by the Saudi sovereign fund PIF.

South African golfer Ernie Els has opened up about how this divide between LIV and PGA is causing turmoil for the sport. Els has been an outright critic of the rebel golf circuit and has expressed his feelings about this issue on several occasions.

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Speaking of how he feels about fellow South African golfers joining LIV, he has told the Palm Beach Post how their friendship has been severely affected due to this divide. Els says, “we’ve lost that camaraderie, definitely. I’m still friends with them, but it’s different.”

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Related: New R&A decision clears LIV Golfers to participate in the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool

Ernie Els expresses his disappointment at seeing several South African golfers joining LIV

Credits: CNBC Golf Channel

Ernie Els, now 53, is a 4x Major winner and a great mentor to many contemporary South African golfers. He had helped golfers Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schartzel in moving to the United States and securing their places on the PGA Tour. However, these golfers failed to consult Els before joining LIV, which has gravely upset the former Major champion.

Oosthuizen was the 2010 Open Championship winner while Schwartzel won the Masters in 2011. All of their achievements came under the guidance and mentorship of Els. Interestingly, when Schwartzel had first moved to South Florida, it was Els who provided him shelter at his house for two full years.

Speaking about his mentees’ actions, Els says, “I was disappointed they never asked me my opinion.” He further adds, “I had them in the foundation [in South Africa], looked after them as youngsters. They flew with me, they stayed at my house. Kind of nurtured them to get onto the PGA Tour. It just was done in a way I didn’t like it.”

As Golf Digest reports, Els is in no longer touch with Oosthuizen and Schwartzel. He feels that the PGA Tour can come up with a consensus about a format like LIV to be played during off-seasons. He adds,  “My view—and I discussed this with the Saudi people a long time ago—was always to do things with the major tours. Everybody should partner up in this team and individual format. And play it in the dead season. That wouldn’t interfere with any of the main tours, It wouldn’t interfere with real golf as we know it.”

In conclusion, the South African golfer is deeply saddened by the state in which golf is in currently. He further concludes,  “It’s really very uncomfortable and surely there has to be some kind of negotiation to come. But the LIV side, they have dug their heels in. They need to negotiate with the tour and the tour needs to talk to them to see if there can be some compromise.”

LIV Golf has secured some of the top names in the golfing community which includes Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, and Cameron Smith. As their season begins this Friday, it is yet to be known whether the rebel golf circuit is able to generate the mass appeal and popularity it has been seeking now for over a year.

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