Legendary golfer Ernie Els bows out of the 152nd Open Championship after suffering a back injury, despite a strong performance on the Champions Tour. Ernie Els, a revered name in golf, has been compelled to withdraw from the 152nd Open Championship due to a back injury. This unfortunate event transpired on Friday, following a challenging first round at Royal Troon, where the South African golfer shot an 11-over-par 82.
Els, affectionately known as ‘The Big Easy,’ boasts an illustrious career, with victories at the Open Championship in 2002 at Muirfield and in 2012 at Royal Lytham and St Annes. Despite his withdrawal, Els has demonstrated exceptional form on the over-50s PGA Tour Champions this year, securing six wins, three of which have been since June. His recent triumph at the Kaulig Companies Championship, held at the former WGC venue Firestone Country Club, marked his first senior major victory.
At 54, Els was set to tee off his second round at 08:19 (SA time) on Friday, alongside American Gary Woodland and South African amateur Altin van der Merwe. His withdrawal is a significant loss for the tournament, as fans and fellow golfers alike admire his enduring skill and sportsmanship.
In addition to Els and Van der Merwe, the Open Championship field this week includes six other South African golfers: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Thriston Lawrence, Darren Fichardt, Louis Oosthuizen, Dean Burmester, and Ryan van Velzen. These players will carry forward the South African legacy in the tournament, aspiring to achieve greatness in the footsteps of their compatriot.