Ernie Els: 2008 US Open Player

Affectionately known as the Big Easy, Ernie Els is one of most prolific golfers to have ever come out of South Africa. He was born on October 17, 1969, in Johannesburg in South Africa and currently has dual residence in Wentworth, England as well as George, South Africa. By the age of 14 Ernie Els was playing of a zero handicap. His first significant golfing achievement was his victory at the 1984 Junior World Golf Championship. Interestingly, Phil Mickelson came second in that particular tournament.

Ernie Els, 2008 US Open player, turned pro in 1989 and joined the European Tour in 1992 and the PGA Tour in 1994. He has amassed 58 professional wins - 15 of these on the PGA Tour and 23 on the European Tour.

One of Ernie Els' most successful years in golf came in 1997. He won his second US Open at Congressional Country Club, which made him the first non-American player to win the US Open twice since Alex Smith achieved that feet in 1906 and 1910. Els went on to defend his Buick Classic title in 1997 and also won the Johnnie Walker Classic. He came very close to winning the World Match Play Championship for the fourth time in a row, but Vijay Singh beat him to it.

Ernie Els' most significant finishes

Ernie Els, 2008 US Open player, has enjoyed a multitude of excellent finishes in the four major championships over the years. He won the US Open twice, and won The Open Championship once. His second place finishes include the 1996 Open Championship, the 2000 and 2004 Masters, the 2000 US Open and the 2000 as well as 2004 Open Championships. He

Ernie Els at the US Open

Ernie Els is a US Open golf player of note. He won the tournament in 1994 at Oakmont Country Club and then again in 1997 at the Congressional Country Club Blue Course in Bethesda, Maryland. He came 5^th in 1996, 2^nd in 2000, 5^th in 2003 and 9^th in 2004. The most recent US Open saw Els returning To Oakmont Country Club hoping for a repeat win at the venue, but he had to settle with a disappointing 51^st place.