'They All Sting A Little Bit, But Not Winning The Masters Will Forever Leave A Sour Taste In My Mouth' – Ernie Els Opens Up On His Major Near-Misses And Reveals Where He'd Take A Career Mulligan

Simply put, Ernie Els is a legend of the game. During his esteemed career, he won two Open Championships and two US Opens. What's more, he has more than 70 worldwide victories to his name, including 19 on the PGA Tour and 28 on the DP World Tour.

However, had the cards fallen slightly differently, the Big Easy could have ended his career with more than four Major Championships. In this exclusive interview, Els recalls some of his near-misses and discusses some of his favourite memories from his Major triumphs. 

When would you like to have a mulligan for your career if you could?

Oh yeah, early on. Obviously 1994 was my breakout year winning the US Open at Oakmont. In 1995 I had another really good year going. As it turned out, I never would win the US PGA Championship, but at Riviera that year, I led by three strokes going into the final round. I was playing really, really good golf that week.

I had an off day on that Sunday. And in terms of moments, I remember horseshoeing my putt out on the 16th hole, the par 3. And then I bogeyed 17, the par 5. You just can’t do that, and I ended up missing that play-off between Steve Elkington and Colin Montgomerie. I still think back to that day and wonder. If I could have done better in that final round, I could have got that championship under my belt and things could have been a bit different for me. 

A lot of players, if you asked that same question, there would be some tournament that got away from them, and the 1995 PGA Championship is obviously one that got away from me. The next year at The Open at Royal Lytham, I was making that big charge on Sunday and then I bogeyed 16 and 18 and Tom Lehman won that one.

In 2004, The Masters got away from me with Phil making that unbelievable putt on the last hole. I was also in the final group of The Open Championship when Todd Hamilton beat me at Royal Troon. Also, at the PGA Championship again, on the final hole I hit a shot through the fairway and into an almost unplayable lie after a perfect drive and could only make a bogey there. You know, there were definitely a couple that got away from me, but I feel very fortunate to have still won four Majors. 

Is there any particular loss from 2004 that stung more than the others?

I think they all sting a little bit now that I think about it. A tournament I never won was The Masters. In 2004, I felt I was playing some of my best golf ever. I had a legitimate chance to win all four Majors. Although 1994 was my breakthrough year, in 2004 I was in my prime. I was doing a lot of really good things with my mental and physical game. David Leadbetter had my swing going beautifully, I was hitting it far and was doing a lot of things very well. 

But not winning The Masters, that will forever be a sour taste in my mouth. It’s such an amazing event with so much prestige and it means so much, but the better player won that day. I finished second to Phil while playing one of my best rounds ever that Sunday [67], making really clutch putts and some birdies on the back nine. That really hurt.

 At the US Open I just played a disastrous final day at Shinnecock Hills. That loss really hurt. My good friend Retief Goosen won. At The Open Championship I felt I really should have won. Todd just stuck in there. I was waiting for him to go away and he just wouldn’t. I missed a few shots I think I should have made. I lost in that play-off to Todd. I three-putted the last green of the US PGA Championship to miss out on a play-off too. That year really hurt me – it was a tough one to be so close and not get a Major.

Now on to your various triumphs. How do you reflect on your Major Championship wins and especially the first one at the 1994 US Open?

When I look back now, my Major wins were all very special. Majors define you so much over your career. The 1994 US Open was a battle. I messed it up on the 18th hole. I made big mistakes in the play-off. It was one of the toughest victories ever. It took 92 holes. Looking back now, that win was very, very important because if I didn’t win that tournament, things could have turned out a lot differently in my career. I was 24 at the time. Winning the US Open gave me a lifetime exemption on the European Tour and a ten-year exemption on the PGA Tour, which means a lot.

How did life change?

I think my whole life changed because I wasn’t after money any more. I think I made $320,000 for that win. I was set financially, and I thought, ‘Now I can go after my dreams.’ It also helped that people started to recognise me more in the game. As a person, I was so grounded with the lifelong friends who were around me and when you have friends like that, even with success you don’t change. You go back home and you still do the same things with them. So from that perspective, I don’t think I’ll ever change. 

What stands out to you now about your US Open win in 1997?

I remember making a clutch putt on the 18th. It was nerve-wracking stuff but that was the most comfortable I ever felt in a Major. I played with Monty on that Sunday. I felt a little more established, I was close to being number one in the world. I believe I was the only one of the final guys to par the 17th hole that day. I had to make some clutch putts down the stretch. Parring 18 with a five-footer, that was a strong finish. I remember my parents being there. That was a really special time with my dad on Father’s Day.

What sticks in your mind most from your two Open triumphs?

I think at Royal Lytham in 2012, when I came back and beat my good friend Adam Scott, that moment when I made the birdie putt on the 72nd hole was pretty amazing and something that will stick with me. That was a memorable roar from the crowd when I made that putt. It was one of the loudest I’ve heard on a golf course. That win, I think, was one of the most special moments of my career. I really had a lot of special feelings from making that putt and winning the Claret Jug again.