Fellow South Africans share reflections on Els' career

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Trevor Immelman was first mezmerized by Ernie Els at age 7, when Els was a teenager playing in an amateur event in South Africa.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Trevor Immelman was just a kid, probably 7 or so, when a teenager named Ernie Els came to play in an amateur tournament at his club back home in South Africa.

"It was just unbelievable," Immelman recalled last week after the second round of the Wells Fargo Championship. "I followed him around like a shadow the whole week, and if you ask him he'll remember it.

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"I was fascinated by him. ... The shots he was hitting -- there was nobody else who was there who could hit those types of shots."

The 6-foot-3 Els actually didn't win that tournament, losing in a playoff. But there were many more victories to come -- three of which were major championships -- to earn Els a spot in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The affable South African who came to be known as "The Big Easy" will be inducted tonight in ceremonies at the World Golf Village. Also in Els' class are former President George H.W. Bush, two-time major champions Doug Ford and Jock Hutchison, Japanese great Jumbo Ozaki and Frank Chirkinian, who is regarded as the "father of golf on television."

"I was so pleased to hear the news that Ernie has been selected to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame," said Gary Player, the patriarch of South African golf. "He epitomizes a 'world' golfer. He is a credit to the game and an ambassador for the sport. Ernie has been a wonderful friend over the years and I am very fond of him and his family."

Immelman, who won his first major in 2008 at Augusta National, frequently sought Els' advice as he was coming through the ranks as a pro, first in Europe and now on the PGA TOUR. The two have played on two Presidents Cup teams together as well.

"So I'm really proud of him," Immelman said. "This is a fantastic achievement -- probably the greatest thing you can achieve in our game getting into the Hall of Fame. I hope he really enjoys the evening."

Immelman says the young Els he first watched play about 25 years ago isn't that different than the one who tees it up around the world right now. The swing is nearly effortless and the results more often than not are enviable.

"He was tremendously powerful and he just has this ease and grace about his swing," Immelman said. "It's something that's desirable, really, for any golfer to watch somebody swing that easily and hit the ball that powerfully. It is really something quite special.

"And right from the start he had all the shots. Whether it be around the greens or with the long game. Everybody knew he was going to be one of the best."

But as great a player as Els is -- he has 18 PGA TOUR titles and a total of 67 worldwide -- the affable South African will also be remembered for his philanthrophic efforts.

Through his Els for Autism Golf Challenge, Els is working to raise funds to build a state-of-the-art learning center for children who have the same condition as his son Ben. In addition, Els' junior golf foundation in South Africa has produced a host of competent young adults, as well as a pair of major champions in Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel -- "which is really incredible," Immelman said.

"If it weren't for Ernie Es, I would not be where I am today," said Oosthuizen, who won the British Open by seven strokes last year. "It's as simple as that.

"I spent several happy years at Ernie's foundation and whenever I wanted help since I have been out on TOUR, Ernie has happily given it. I could not have found a better role model."

Schwartzel, whose father George once won a tournament playing with Els, was an associate member of the foundation and traveled with Oosthuizen and the others. The recent Masters champ credits that opportunity and Els' guidance as being essential in his development, as well.

"My father George set me up and continues to be my coach to this day," Schwartzel said. "But Ernie has been a great inspiration and friend to me for years. He is always happy to give his time and expertise, and I have been the grateful beneficiary of his generosity."

The current generation of stars like Immelman, Oosthuizen and Schwartzel, though, aren't the only ardent supporters that Els has. The 2003 Presidents Cup at the Links at Fancourt in George, South Africa showcased his popularity -- particularly when the matches came down to a sudden death playoff between Els and Tiger Woods before captains Player and Jack Nicklaus decided to end it in a tie.

"He's so popular in South Africa," Immelman said. "If you've ever been to South Africa and seen him compete there, it's on the same level that Tiger is and Phil Mickelson is here."