No Laying Up - Golf Podcast - NLU Podcast, Episode 149: Ernie Els

Episode Date: June 25, 2018

Four time major champion Ernie Els joins us from the BMW International just outside of Cologne, Germany to talk about his career as an international player, some U.S. Open memories, and some stories from his... The post NLU Podcast, Episode 149: Ernie Els appeared first on No Laying Up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm going to be the right club today. Yeah. That's better than most. How about him? That is better than most. Better than most. All right. Ladies and gentlemen, I'm going to be the right club today.

Yeah. That's better than most. How about him? That is better than most. That is better than most. That is better than most. That is better than most. That is better than most.

That is better than most. That is better than most. That is better than most! Expect anything different! Alright ladies and gentlemen welcome back to the No-Lang-Up podcast. We are out here in Germany at the BMW International. We're way out here. Way out here. This is the furthest east you've ever been. Huh? I mean, well you went the wrong way to go.

Korea and Australia. Depending on your measurement tool. I think it's in Europe. First east you ever been? Yes. Correct. Toronto, you went the wrong way to go. Korea and Australia, depending on your measurement tool. In Europe, first East Europe. Yes, correct. Toronto, you've been to Germany before? I have, yeah. But only to Berlin, not to Cologne or Munich. All right, so we have an interview coming up here shortly

with Ernie Ells. We're going to talk about that, but kind of want to quickly run through the week and tee this up a little bit. Dijon, you'd walk us through our plan here in our schedule this week. Yeah, so shout out to my travel agency, Tron Travel, who basically set up everything. Tron had us flying into Munich, which was not the quickest way to get to the tournament. I don't think, but it resulted in two pretty awesome days in Southern Germany. Sure, false. You wanted the longest possible route on the Autobahn to get to Calais.

False, but ended up in hindsight. It was brilliant. Yeah, we had a couple of great days down there. Tape to a bunch of video stuff. I think that'll probably illustrate kind of what we got into a little better than me talking about it, but Yeah, it was great. I've never seen that part of the world before and bounce around it We I think one of the big things coming over here. I had no idea what golf in Germany was like and I mean not that I really have You know I total understanding of it after four days or whatever But it was pretty cool to see you hear, Germans have to have licenses for everything. So you have to take a test in order to play golf.

You have to be a licensed golfer. Just the whole thing. It was pretty wild scene. I mean, well, beyond the golf, you'd never been to Germany. So what was your live up to your expectations? Oh, yeah. Different, one way.

Exceeded my expectations. It's been delightful. People have been great. The scenery's been awesome. Architecture's been awesome. Food's been phenomenal. We had some beers. We get out of some beers.

Yeah, pretzels, I mean, we did. I feel like we did the very touristy things and the very, hopefully, a couple off the beaten path things. We did not go to Hoffbra House. Let's go say even on the touristy stuff that we did, we try to find the more local flavor of that touristy stuff. Yeah, it's great. Yeah, we did pretty good.

Part so much of the story of the European tour is about the destinations, the places you go. And it's so cool, I mean, the European tour is such a worldwide tour to go to an actual continental European city and be in that is cool. It's just cool to come here and see that in a major city in Germany, the biggest country in Europe, to see a tournament going on in the operations and all the people that go to it and everything. It was a treat. It was.

Yeah, I agree. All right, so this interview with Ernie L's, first of all, a big thank you to our partners at BMW. They have been teed us up for success. They helped set up this interview. They had us out to this tournament and we had absolute blast. I know that sometimes the partnership talk is not the most well received here,

but these are the people that help TSUP to succeed. And I think that they've given us every opportunity to. It's our fault if it doesn't go through. It's trying to do very well. It's funny. We were talking earlier. I think DJ said he was like, man, we're so used to getting told no. Getting told no or getting told.

Like, yeah, we might be able to make that happen. And it just never, you know, just, I guess this is probably more of a commentary on America. But yeah, everything that we've been, you know, told or ideas that have been floated, it has come through. It doesn't work out. Oh, God. No, it's just, but this week, but yeah, everything that we've been told or ideas that have been floated has come through. It doesn't work out. Oh, God, no, it's just, but this week it's just been... It's like nobody blows smoke of your ass. They just, if I can't do something, they tell you that or say... Exactly. Like you were saying to all I think the partnership stuff, I'm sure people can roll their eyes sometimes when we start saying that stuff, but it's so true that we try to our hardest to only pick partners that make us better and give us opportunities to do really cool things.

And I think this week was a perfect example of that. I don't think we talked to Ernie Ells without having a reason to be over here in Germany at this event. And I mean, the whole thing was just really, really cool week. So yeah, huge thanks to them. I mean, Ernie missed the cut. This was after his Friday round, missed the cut in the tournament director asked him to do this interview. He shot 80. Yeah. And the conditions were brutal. Yeah. Yeah. What a smile and face and met with three bearded dudes he never met before and sat and talked

to golf. Because we had 30 minutes. We spent 40. It's one of our favorite interviews. I think we've ever done all considering the circumstances in his stature in the game. So without further ado, we're going to turn it over to that. Thank you for the BMW folks here for having us out. The fine folks of Munich and the Alps. And everywhere we've been, it's been a special treat of a trip. And when you get to the one more of that story,

he just kind of smirked and kind of went of we do ask him about about the stories of his plane He kind of give some some verbal clues like all right. Let's let's move on from this But he does answer it very very well So be excited for that so one final thing before we turn it over to the interview I want to tell you guys about this incredible magazine that we picked up from our friends at Calaway golf They collaborated with whalebone magazine, which is an award-winning quarterly publication and an authentic lifestyle brand based out of New York to produce what they've called the golf issue.

So let me start by saying it's not your typical golf magazine, it's filled with some of the most artistic and creative and approachable spreads I've seen in a golf publication. We especially love the behind-the-scenes look at renowned sports photographer Walter Yosef's favorite golf photos and stories behind it Even Michelle we contributed in the rad girls of golf spread, which is a look at a few junior girls already taking the game by storm So there's a surprise every time you turn the page and I'm not quite positive

What kind of paper they use but the texture of this thing is amazing It's a special edition book and has a massive coffee table appeal to get your copy. Go to shopwalebone.com and click on the golf category. They won't last long, so please do hustle. There's also some very limited edition gear available to like custom OGO stand bags and some sandblasted MAC-Deadie 4 wedges stamped by the master Anthony Toronto. So go to shop.walebone.com to pick up the golf issue and some merch because you sure it's hell not getting mine

So turning over to Ernie here now We do bypass any formal introduction of any kind get right into the interview So please do enjoy and thank you for tuning in all right Ernie You are known as one of the most international players in the world Where where does your inspiration for traveling to play golf all over the world come from? No, I think it's just from my heritage. I mean, South African born and, you know, in the tip of Africa, you know, you, if you wanted to play, you will get it anyway in the world map as a golfer, you have to travel, you know.

So I've been traveling since I was a young boy. I think I was 13, 14 and I made my very first long trip to San Diego, California. It's about as long and I've made my very first long trip to San Diego, California. It's a better as long as it gets to. It's a better 27 hour trip to there. It's in our blood, I guess, from down in South Africa. You have to travel to get any way. A lot of people aspire to make a career out of the PGA Tour.

Once you've done that, you made a very successful career out of the PGA Tour. You've still traveled a lot internationally. Is that kind of just that that was kind of instilled in you from that? Yeah, I guess, you know, when I got into the European Tour first, you know, so it's kind of my next stop out of South Africa. It was a European tour and then kind of got myself onto the US tour in 93, 94. And I just found myself playing both tours. It's not like I wanted to,

it just kind of just worked that out of way. My first base out of South Africa was really in London. So I really got familiar with London and it's a great city. And then kind of got myself a little spot in Orlando, Florida, back in the early 90s. So I had kind of two bases out of South Africa, the main one in London, and then Orlando later. So it just kind of morphed into what it is today, really,

just by accident. If you could marry the best elements of the two main tours of the PGA tour in the European tour, how would that look? What would that look like? Well, I love the food in Europe. I mean, I love the food in the US obviously, but you know, you've got so many different cultures over here in Europe, so many different countries, and I just love eating here. I just love eating, you know, full stop, but but love the food over here. I think the golf courses in the US,

the condition-wise, weekend and week-at, it's a little bit better than over here. Here, you have very different conditions from week to week. This week in Germany, next week, in France, then you go to Lingskolf after that, Irish and the Scorries, and then in a British. So very different conditions. You go to adapt all the time, which

is also interesting and nice. It's not just kind of a cookie cutter every week, the same. It's a little different over here, which I like. But it's a lot easier in the States. If you base your style of self there and move from tournament to tournament in the States, it's a lot easier on the body and on the family really. What when did you hit the point where you decided okay I need to get my own plane?

Well I just fell into that one too you know when the kids were young I felt I wanted to try and keep them with me on the road. I had a couple of good years and I had a couple of good deals to be honest with you. That's the only reason I got into that expensive little hobby. But it's been really fun. I've just sold the aeroplane. I'm back on to with NJT again. But for a very long time I could have my family with me. As we talked about, I played everywhere from South Africa to Australia, to Dubai, to Fiji or Y.

You wanted Japan? Singapore, Japan. You name it, and the kids were with us. We were like a bunch of gypsies for about 10 years. You know, just every way we went, the kids came and I could not have done it without the airplanes. I had a real great bonding experience with my kids when they were really young, which is important. What was the biggest culture shock of all of those places? What was the moment that kind of shook you the most? I mean, there are many places we've gone, you know, but I don't think I can quite prepare

you for India. You know, India was, we heard about, you know, a lot of people there and all that, we loved it, but still, you know, going into Delhi, I think there's like 22 million people in downtown Delhi and I loved it, but it was there was a lot of people. I mean, especially where I come from in South Africa We only bet I think there's only about 20,000 people in this little town. We were alive and The going to 22 million people was quite a shock. That's how it feels like going to Orlando for me two million people was quite a shock. That's how it feels like going to Orlando for me. What are you from?

I'm from a small town in Illinois. I lived in Orlando for a while, though. No, probably not quite that bad. But yeah, we're just graphic. It's growing. We're just up the road for him. We're in Jacksonville, so we fund our way down to Orlando at decent amount.

But we've heard stories a lot about the playing, about the traveling on the plane. I'm like a hot topic right now in the States. Yeah, I hear that. I mean, we've had some interesting flights, obviously. They don't talk about the flights with your family too often. Yeah, I'm trying to keep it clean. No, you don't have to.

You can do whatever you want. No, we've had some interesting flights, obviously. Invite my friends onto the plane. You know, give them a ride where I can. You know, on the aeroplane, very seldom on long flights that we drink water. You know, definitely enough beer on the plane. A lot of the guys, my daddy used to rickie, used to fly with me a lot. And he said that, you know, he thought that the plane could run on Heineken.

We had so much in there. Steve Marino. That's the big one that keeps going around. Scottie was like a little brother to me. He flew with me a lot. Dustin Johnson, I mean, all the guys. Everybody flew with me. But the Marino one is obviously the one

everyone wants to talk about. We can just, it was just myself and Stevie from Japan all the way down to Palm Beach. And I mean we had a lot to drink. It was the inner of the year and it was a long way down to Florida. You know there was a lot to talk about and you know we kind of hugged each other. It was a laugh fest in the airplane, but nobody got really seriously injured or anything like that, and it was all in good fun. I heard at the end of that, hands were shook at the end, and I was like, all right, we'll see you later, pal, that's it.

It's actually like nothing happened. It was just, I don't know, it's just what guys do, I guess, you know. There's a lot of testosterone running. We've heard that guys are required to surf the airplane. Yeah, we surfed a couple of landings. Who's the best surfer, Ab's got? Yeah, Scotty was not bad, you know, he's a little bit light, but you know, you've got a good footing coming in.

More like a long board. But really, you've got to have a good pilot. And hopefully he doesn't have to put the emergency brakes on because he'd be through the front window. But everybody's served the lining. Everybody I can remember. Well, so you mentioned, before we got on, just kind of feeling a little jet lagged and stuff.

Did that, have you always been a good traveler? Is that stuff starting to catch up with you now? Later in your career. Yeah, I don't know. I guess as you get older that you find it difficult to sleep sometimes, you know? And I just find it very difficult always throughout my career to go ways to east.

I just always, I guess you guys are the same. You lose time. I mean, you just kinda, I can't get to sleep till two, three o'clock in the morning. It's not good when you have an 8 o'clock tea time. I just felt that I don't know. I've done pretty well with JTLAC throughout my career. I think it gets tougher as you get older.

You think the more you do it, the more you adjust to it. It's not the case. Every hour is a day. If it's a five hour time change, it takes five days. And historically, that's just been my way. So you can't short-cut it. I almost found going to Asia even better. You screw up so badly that it almost resets, but I think Europe and the US is actually really tough.

Exactly. I mean, it's just enough to really screw you up. And you go to Asia, you miss the whole day. You kind of recalibrate. And it's off here too, because it really doesn't get dark till 11 o'clock. Yeah, I'm 30, 11. It's still dusky out.

I know. Well, I've made enough excuses. I just got to just, I think I need some rest. I need like good three weeks away and kind of see where we go from there. We're tired and we haven't had to play golf this week. I'm not fully ready to move on from the plane though. I want to know who are the best traveling companions on the flight? Like the best hangs. All of it.

I mean, all the guys. I mean, we've had all the way from, as I said, Stevie. We've had all the way from SSH TV. I mean, I've had a whole tour. I mean, Camille Villegas, Dustin, Jamie Lovemark, Keegan Bradley, Justin Rose. Can anyone not hang? Everybody. My everybody, young. Everybody.

At Henry Stinson, he doesn't have too many. He was with me from Korea. Graham McDowell, we had a great time. Thomas Bjorn is another one that doesn't really have anything, but we forced him to have a good time. Rolling stones with Blair all the time. Start me up as we get in the airplane. Oh man. Yeah, we were like rock stars. We really enjoyed it. I mean, I really got a lot out of the airplane and my pilot stayed with me for 17 years, you know, Rob. So he's

maybe the one to talk to. Yeah, I'm not going to give you too much. Well, no, it's great. You gave us enough. If you weren't going to give us the stories, we were going to go to the sources. The story is about it. And so you gave us enough that we won't go digging too much. No, that's great. So we have a question that we like to ask, both young players and older players about their careers and their earnings and everything. And one thing theory that we have is how much money that Tiger has put in the pockets of other players essentially.

So I was like to ask, in your opinion, how much money would you say Tiger has earned you over the course of your career? Many, I gotta thank him. I gotta really thank him. I mean, he was a little better than me. So he took a little bit of money out of my pocket on the course, playing, but the purses just went up ridiculously.

I mean, I remember when I came out, I think in 1994, that was kind of pre-tiger, Tiger came out in 96. You know, one, I came out of 96. You know, 1, 360,000 was my first prize for the US Open in 94. And just a couple years later, you know, it was a million dollars. In 97. This past week it was 2 million. And this past week it was 2 million. What is done for the ratings?

I mean, all you guys, I mean, really brought in mainstream media spectators. I mean, you name it. I mean, even across the pond. So to speak, you know, over here, prize money has gone up. Popularity has gone up. It's just been an amazing run. How do you, you know, with all the international travel you've done in international wins and stuff, do you feel like you're more appreciated inside the US or outside the US from the golf perspective?

Yeah, interesting. I, luckily, you know, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, I've, you know, I've had a good rapport with them. And the same over here in Europe and even Asia, you know. I guess when you're long around, as long as I've been around, you know, people kind of recognize you.

You know, I don't think I've been the biggest ass out of here. I've been this morning, I was maybe a little bit of an ass, but, you know, it was a tough challenge. But for the most part, you know, I know trying to have a good time with them they've given me some love back. So it's been a wonderful ride for a very long time. I think it's your tempo. Who could not root for you? I don't know what it is but it's been good. You know you still want to try and play the way you used to,

but it's kind of starting to go a little bit, but they've respected me, you know, even though I've gone south a little bit. It's got to be hard, I imagine, to just find that balance between, you know, treating, like for fans and stuff. People are going to be coming up to you for eternity, and you almost have to decide where to draw the line, even walking from the scoring tent to here, I mean, stopping you and you have, it's got to be hard to be frustrated to figure out who to say yes to and who to say no to and it's really kind of a luck of the draw. Really just want to get out of here.

Yeah, exactly. But you can't do that either, you know, the people, it's funny when you meet the same people as you're going up as when you're coming the other way. And I've felt that if you can treat them good going this way, they might be nice to you when you're going the other way. Because it's really a vicious circle, it can be. So I think that's part and parcel of being at you for a long time. You want to be friends with the guys playing and you want to be okay with the spectators you know it could be a long road out if you don't ever report with people. We were doing just a bit of research and looking

into we don't remember this happening we were at the Galen High School and it happened but in 2004 we saw there was a letter you received once from Tim Finchim about requesting that you play the PGA tour more frequently. What was even the kind of the basis of that? How did that come about? I mean that just seems kind of insane looking back at it now. Yeah I mean even today still I mean I I heard the youngsters talking you know and a lot of the youngsters are struggling to play 15 events. In my day back then Tim wanted us to play more than 15, closer to 20 events.

And I felt that was getting really tight for me. In my heyday, I never really played many more than 17 events on the US tour. I wish I played a bit more, but I had a lot of events to play. But yeah, Tom really was pushing on that, and then eventually we pushed back against it. And now you guys only have to play 15. So I remember Cevibas Steroz, a lot of the guys before me

had the same issue with him. And then eventually we kind of got to a good grounding where he was happy with the events I was playing and I think now the guys you know playing 15 is a lot better than playing 18. I mean he would have nobody playing on that tour and I think Tiger had something to do with that too maybe. Yeah, kind of what he says. Yeah exactly. So we want to kind of go through some of your some of your best memories of your career and just kind of ask what the first thing you think of is when you think of the 1994 US Open, what's the first number you have or the best story you have from that open.

Just hot, just weather. I think still today I don't think you've played in warmer weather. Really? You know, even Singapore and Malaysia, I mean, it was 105, and the index must have felt like 115. I mean, it was a freaking oven. That was congressional, right? That was actually Pittsburgh. Oh, I'm 94, so far. Oh, come on, yeah.

I mean, the first thing you think of is heat. You don't think of your winning your first major. Yeah. And, you know, I haven't really looked at that type for quite some time. But I remember my wife, my girlfriend then, Liesel and myself, how young we were. I mean, we were 24, but we were a young 24. If I look around these kids now, they kind of bit more worldly.

Maybe not worldly, it's not the right word, but they have a bit more mature than we were. I remember, you know, the Monday we finished on the Monday, I remember setting in the club as upstairs with some friends, you know, obviously drinking some beer again, talking about beer. And watching the OJ Simpson deal go down. Oh, wow. You know, that was the Bronco. That's right. That was Arnold's last last last round. And Arnold, absolutely. I was watching Arnold,

you know, like NBA finals. Yeah. Yeah. And they chose. I think the put, not put, the ranges, New York ranges. Yeah, they won. And after that, I actually got to meet Mark Messier. I remember he won the Stanley Cup. A lot of stuff happened in 94, man. Seriously, that beat a lot. Geez, what about 1997 at Congressional? Well, first about 94, I was stunned to see that in the playoff

that you started Bogey Triple. Yeah. And you won the 80, or you tied Lauren Roberts into that part. I'd have it's a miracle because that's probably the toughest golf course in the world and being four over after two holes. And then playing the next 16 holes on one end of the par and then going into the southern death with Lauren. I don't think Lauren got over this one because he must have thought I

was gone. Yeah, I just snuck myself back in, they got into a playoff and then it went my way. So you know you got to feel for Lauren. But, yeah, that was a crazy, crazy week, crazy day. I mean, long week, 90, 90 holes. I always remembered Lauren, I didn't remember Colin Montgomery in that first playoff, too. So you beat him in? Yeah, Monty, it was there, too, yeah. I mean, Monty, and I guess Monty must have run out of gear. Because on the Monday, it was still like 107 degrees.

And he, as a Scotsman, had all black on. Oh. So, I think he was a little warm, getting off the first tee. And it might have showed in his play, I don't know. I think we were all just a bit tired, but it was interesting to see him in all black. Yeah, that's right. That's the spirit. Pretty, you know.

You can guess what we're going to go next, 97 US Open. 97, yeah I mean I remember my parents being there, you know and obviously you remember the 17th hole and you know a clutch part on 18 and then seeing 17 unfold behind me you could see everything unfold there you know with maggot going the water Tim Laman going the water you know Monty just missing his butt on 17 I played with him so kind of nerve-wracking stuff, but I felt, that was the most comfortable I ever felt in a major. Did it feel different the second time, like winning the second time?

Yeah, I was a bit more established as a player. You know, one quite a few events since 94 and a 2rd. I was close to being number one in the world, so I was kind of becoming quite an established player and felt very comfortable that whole week for some reason. Although at the end I had to make some clutch shots, the five iron on 17, hitting it in there, I was the only one to part of the final guys and then firing 18 with a five footer. Those are the

things I really remember. And then remembering my father being there on Father's Day, that was a really, really special time. Outside of the majors, what's your, what victory are you most proud of? You know what? You know I've had quite a few thankfully but the ones are staying out you know one seven world match plays you know that was a that was something that nobody's done before it went with I want three three straight Heineken classics on one of the base golf courses in the world, Royal Melbourne. I was going to say exactly, I was going to mention that. He had exactly that sort of a beard that came from, but you know, and to shoot 60 around Royal Melbourne, that course record will hopefully

hold up for a while. That was really special. We played there in November and we did not. Are you with me? We were there. There was Zach there. Yeah, he was 60. He was 60 through five, I think. We're like, all right, maybe he's got a shot at this, and then kind of went by the wayside after that.

No, it's an unbelievable place. I mean, great course. And now the prison scubs coming back there, and the 98 prison scubs, the only one we ever won was a Royal Melbourne. So it's kind of a nice ring to that Australian and South Africa's an Australian, historically we don't get along. We, in sporting terms, we don't get along. So it was kind of strange that I had such a nice affinity with Royal Melbourne. What's the rivalry mostly there? Cricket or rugby?

Cricket or rugby? Yes. Mostly anything. I'm not a surfer, but I know surfing. They got better surfers than I was at the moment. Have they had your number in Cricket or rugby? What's the reason? For a little bit they had us in cricket for about three or four years there.

But now they're kind of striving with a lot of things at the moment. But hopefully they can pull us through in this president's cup. How did the process for you becoming the president's cup captain work? And did you have 2019 as the year that you knew you wanted to or who approaches who how does that process I'm not sure I mean Nick Price asked me to help him at Liberty a couple years ago and then

You know, we weren't sure who was gonna to be captain and the next thing I heard that, you know, Jay Monane said that I should be captain and I really jumped at it. You know, there's no real set way of our new captain's coming. I'm not sure who's going to be the next guy. It's a fantastic host course to be able to captain at. Absolutely. Well, you have any latitude as far as how to set up the course. I know that's kind of been a point of contention in the past with the announcement. I tried, but they've got their rules set.

Neither of the captains really has a big advantage. You know, whether the US captain in the US doesn't get that much advantage in the same with us down there. The only thing going for me is that I know the course very well and I've got a very comfortable way of going to Australia. No Melbourne very well, I know they'll tell very well and I know the conditions very well. So I can give that to the players, already told him that, whatever they need to know about that course, I can give them a little bit of that. There's a pretty good that whatever they need to know about that course, you know, I can give them a little bit of that.

There's a pretty good feeling that it will be firm and fast. Yeah, I mean, that time of the year, it will be early December. Conditions can be like this, believe it or not, and then the next day it can be 100 degrees, you know. It's got a different climate down there in Melbourne. I mean, I'm sure you guys have been there. We were out on that golf course, and it was about 95 degrees, and a breeze came from the top climate down there in Melbourne. I mean, I'm sure you guys have been there. We were out on that golf course,

and it was about 95 degrees, and a breeze came from the opposite direction, and the temperature drops 20 degrees, and eight seconds. Yeah, it's always like San Francisco, Cape Town. I mean, you can go places around the world. It's amazing. So when you're looking to pick players for that team,

what do you think you base that on? Is it kind of past victories and experience in that stuff? Is it recent form? Is it who fits the course? Probably all that stuff. Yeah, that's interesting. I mean, all of those above that you'd mentioned. I think I've got four picks.

Eight guys are going to qualify through the World Rankings. And then I've got four picks. And I've really told the guys that I will look at guys who have done well at the well-melvin. You know, if there's a local guy and he's in real good form, I might throw him in a hat and ask the guys if they are okay with that. I really want to have the guys influence in the four picks this time around, because they have to play with these guys.

You know, I want them to be really comfortable with them. There's no use of me picking guys and they, and the other guys aren't comfortable. So, yeah, I mean, I think a, a guy that's an expert around Real Melbourne might have a good chance of getting in the team. And someone who at the time you'd already won three majors been under the pressure of major championships that play off in the 03 Presidents Cup against Tiger with all of your teammates, all under the pressure of major championships that play off in the O3 Presidents Cup against Tiger.

With all of your teammates, all of the pressure riding on you and everything that was at stake, did that feel different than being in contention in a major? Yeah, I did. I mean, it was totally different. I mean, I was more nervous there than anywhere else because in a a major if you screw up it's yourself, you blame yourself and you get out of town. But if you screw up in front of your teammates, for your team, for a cup, very different, you know. I can sense now what NBA guys must feel like

at the three-thirds line. For the championship, we're going for a three-pointer stuff like that. I mean, it is on the line. And in golf, it's not a moving sport like NBA or tennis. So you've got a lot of time to think about your next shot. And all your guys are there and the crowds are there. I was tough. And I'm very glad that both of us made parts.

Because it would have been hard on either of us if we didn't make those parts and somebody had to lose. And almost thankfully it went dark. What did you think of the decision, I guess, to tie? There wasn't another decision at all. It's unique because I think it was a good decision because I mean, you're very closely Thanksgiving. At the end of the day, there's more life after golf. And the Americans, the guys that playing was ready,

they were going to go back to the States. There were things that were set in place. People had to be places the next day. So I think the right decision was made. You're so far away from the rest of the world in Africa. The sleep and then the next day go out and play. I think it could have been really unfair on either side. You guys should write in the captain's agreement that if it comes down to a tie, you and Tiger has the captain have to break.

No, I think he's a better form than I am at the moment. You've got a year. You know, you're going to break out. I think we'll give it to the guys, let the boys struggle. That's right, that's nice of you. Let them have the moment. Let me sit on the sideline.

What is the current status of your game? What are your goals, I guess, for this stage of your career? What are you working on? What are you hoping to get out of the stage of your career? Well, I was trying to get a bit of form this year, but it hasn't quite come around. But I'm looking forward to the open championship. Is my next major, and I might play the Scottish Open,

but I'll be 49 in October, and 50 next October. I've got the presence cup coming up. I'm gonna give that my full attention, and I wanna play, but I think I'm gonna play a little bit less than I have been. I can feel, and also my frustration level is sky high, because I'm not playing the way I want to play, and that really frustrates me. What part of your game are you most frustrated with?

It's my mental game. I mean, my physical game is not bad. I just make the most silly errors that you cannot believe. And I remember speaking to some of my mentors, Nick Price, Greg Norman, Nick Fowl though, and they all say that they'll be playing perfectly well or everything's fine. And then out of the blue, something happens. It's like, where did that come from?

And that's kind of where I'm going through now. I'm going fine, fine, fine, and then out of the blue, I do something like you would never even imagine as a rookie. So those are the frustrating things. Other than that, I'm perfectly fine. So we'll see where it goes. I mean, I'd like to play competitively,

and I want to feel like I have chances to win. I don't want to be missing cuts and play off weeks. Will you play the Champions Tour? Definitely. Yeah, I'll play the Champions Tour. And that's why I think I need to be fresh because those boys are playing. Yeah. It seems like everyone that turns 50, everyone says,

oh, he's going to tear up the tour and it's not a kid. No, that's not happening, mate. It's very competitive. And it's a good. No, that's not happening. It's very competitive. And it's a different style of golf a little bit too. You're just firing a flag and you got it. I know, you got to be honest. But you're gonna make seven or eight birdies a day. And the guys are doing that.

So I'm looking forward to playing golf courses we can actually make birdies, get to par five and two again and stuff like that. But you're going to have to have your game. I mean, all these guys are ready to go. And we're going to have a big class of 69. There's a lot of my guys going in. I mean, the tips going in, you know, Jimmy Fury. There's so many. I mean, Angle Cabrera, I mean, Darren Clark's going in, so there's about 10-12 of us coming, so it'll be very competitive. What did you think of House and the

Cockhills ended up playing out? Yeah, it was unfortunate. I mean, it's one of the base golf courses on the planet. I mean I think it's ranked number three or four. So you got an unbelievable venue and to miss it up like that again is just crazy. You know they when the fair was with that wild maybe the USJ thought that they had to really get going with the greens which they did. You know, even the first day we played in the afternoon and all the flags were right on the edges. It was really right on the line of being unfee or really on Thursday. Then the rains came on Friday morning, softened things up,

and then they let it go again on Saturday and putting flags all over on mounds and almost off the greens. So I really, I'm a little bit disappointed, not little, I'm quite disappointed. I mean, that was my 20-foot straight year playing in the US open, so I've seen them all, you know, and it seems like we keep going back every now and again to where the USGA just can't find their happy medium of just letting the golf course be. You know, you got one of the best iconic golf courses in the whole of the world and you're going, trying to really get tricky with the golf course

It's just not it shouldn't happen What was your favorite setup that you saw? Are the weather's one that you won or not? Yeah, I mean There's been some really good ones But I would say in my 25 years I would say There's been half good and half bad. Yeah. And I don't mind playing a tough course and getting it in tough shape for us to score on, but be fair and then kill the greens.

You know, it seems like the greens die when the USGA was there. Payball beach in 2010. It was a joke. It was terrible. You know, the Greens with the Pohana was dead in the Green, I mean it was terrible. That's one of the best golf courses in the world again. It's just, I just don't get it. Comparing your win, the setup for your win at Oakmont in 94 versus the set up.

You see there too. You know, the Saturday we could hold the greens. I remember shooting 66 on the Saturday at Oakmont. And a lot of my friends said, because I shot 70, I think I shot 73 or 4 on the final day, they said, you were choking, you choked. So sure, I choked a little bit, but I couldn't get near a flag where I could shoot at the flags on Saturday, on Sunday that took the moisture out of the place, and they put the flags on positions and you couldn't really score. So you know,

it was dictated of how the golf course was set up again. The conditions can just fluctuate so much which I really don't get. So you know, hopefully they get it right because they just haven't had it right. I mean, they got some changes. The way it was pathetic. Then you had last year at a new golf course. It felt like a twit tournament, you know, 16 underwins. And then this year they do that to Shunikok. So I don't know where this thing's going to end. Couple more. We'll get, we'll let you get out of here. Appreciate your time.

But first one, I know what are you most proud of in your entire career? Wow, that's a good one. I should have thought about that one. I, you know, being out here for quite some time, you know, I turned pro back in 1990 and playing, I think all over the world and winning all over the world. I think that's really something. Yeah, I mean, having a good rapport with people, I think leaving the stage is important that you live with

some dignity. I mean, the game beats the LRU, but I'm still in good state with the fans, with the players, and so forth. And really playing a worldwide schedule, I think we touched on that. I think that made me a little bit different and I did it my whole career which was kind of nice. I think most people would agree that your foundation work, Elzfer Autism, is one of the most recognizable names in the Gulf world. I guess when it comes to charity work. Can you tell us about the passion that is behind your foundation?

And was there many foundations when you started it? It seems like every golfer has a foundation now, which I know is a big drive at the tour. But was there much of that when you started it, or was it a pretty new idea? Well, you got to give the PGI to a credit. I mean, they had charity-based organization. I mean, that drives them.

Every tournament we go to, this charity dollar is being given to local charities. So, you know, you have a pretty good understanding of what the tour is all about. I was lucky enough that I had things go my way and my parents could send me overseas. So my first thought before my family came around was to help junior golfers have the opportunity to be able to do what I did.

Get aerosol Africa and go and try and play overseas. I mean, that exchange rate compared to the dollar and the pound is really weak. So you have to have a lot of capital to leave the country. So my first deal that we did was a foundation for junior golf. Guys were pretty good. We would help them through school and give them the opportunity to go overseas and play. And then the family came around, especially with Ben, and when Ben was born, he was with autism. You know, when we got our heads around it, myself and my wife started the health for autism.

And, you know, we moved our base from London to the US, because in London, there wasn't the care that my boy could get. It wasn't good enough. We were very comfortable in Florida, and the US people are just the most unbelievable people. We raised money, and we've built this one-of-a-kind school for autism in Florida. And this kind of school is exactly what the people of autism needs right around the world.

So hopefully governments, people will come and look at the school and build a hundred of these things. Because my boy has gone through the roof. He would absolutely hate going to school. I had to drag him out of the house, in the car, out of the car, into the class, kicking screaming. He cannot wait to get his ass out of the house, in the car, out of the car, at school. And now we got to drag him out of school to go home.

That's how it flipped in our lives. That's so cool. And that's and that is where it's at. So it's really changed our world, changed our lives and you know, we need to keep going. Awesome. All right Ernie, we took up more time of yours than we asked for. So we'll let you go. I appreciate you stopping in and we'll just tell some stories. Thanks a lot. Appreciate it. We keep the key. Yeah. Give it a big applause.

Be the right club today. Yes. That is better than most. How about him? That is better than most. Better than most. Better than most.