Open Greats

Few players in recent history have a better record at The Open than Ernie Els.

The popular South African boasts two wins, three runner-up finishes and two placings of third among his nine top-five finishes at golf’s original Championship.

He had already contended for the Claret Jug on numerous occasions, most notably when finishing second in 1996 and 2000, by the time he secured his first Open victory in the most dramatic fashion at Muirfield in 2002.

After a shaky finish to his final round, long-time leader Els found himself in a four-man play-off – the first in Open history – with Thomas Levet, Stuart Appleby and Steve Elkington. Els and Levet still could not be separated after the scheduled four holes, but it was ‘The Big Easy’ who ultimately prevailed in sudden death.

Els remained a regular fixture on Open leaderboards in the years that followed, losing a play-off to Todd Hamilton two years later before finishing third at Royal Liverpool in 2006 and fourth at Carnoustie in 2007.

A second Open victory then came his way in 2012 – 10 years on from his Muirfield success – as he sensationally snatched victory from Adam Scott at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

The 150th Open at St Andrews saw Els make his 31st appearance in the Championship and 30th in succession.

Ernie Els’ Open record

1989 | Royal Troon

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 148 (72, 76)

1992 | Muirfield

Position: T5

Score: 279 (66, 69, 70, 74)

1993 | Royal St George’s

Position: T6

Score: 274 (68, 69, 69, 68)

1994 | Turnberry

Position: T24

Score: 278 (69, 69, 69, 71)

1995 | St Andrews

Position: T11

Score: 286 (71, 68, 72, 75)

1996 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: T2

Score: 273 (68, 67, 71, 67)

1997 | Royal Troon

Position: T10

Score : 282 (75, 69, 69, 69)

1998 | Royal Birkdale

Position: T29

Score: 292 (72, 74, 74, 72)

1999 | Carnoustie

Position: T24

Score: 298 (74, 76, 76, 72)

2000 | St Andrews

Position: T2

Score: 277 (66, 72, 70, 69)

2001 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: T3

Score: 278 (71, 71, 67, 69)

2002 | Muirfield

Position: Champion Golfer of the Year

Score: 278 (70, 66, 72, 70)

2003 | Royal St George’s

Position: T18

Score: 290 (78, 68, 72, 72)

2004 | Royal Troon

Position: 2nd

Score: 274 (69, 69, 68, 68)

2005 | St Andrews

Position: T34

Score: 286 (74, 67, 75, 70)

2006 | Royal Liverpool

Position: 3rd

Score: 275 (68, 65, 71, 71)

2007 | Carnoustie

Position: T4

Score: 279 (72, 70, 68, 69)

2008 | Royal Birkdale

Position: T7

Score: 292 (80, 69, 74, 69)

2009 | Turnberry

Position: T8

Score: 281 (69, 72, 72, 68)

2010 | St Andrews

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 148 (69, 79)

2011 | Royal St George’s

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 147 (71, 76)

2012 | Royal Lytham & St Annes

Position: Champion Golfer of the Year

Score: 273 (67, 70, 68, 68)

2013 | Muirfield

Position: T26

Score: 292 (74, 74, 70, 74)

2014 | Royal Liverpool

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 152 (79, 73)

2015 | St Andrews

Position: T65

Score: 286 (71, 73, 69, 73)

2016 | Royal Troon

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 147 (71, 76)

2017 | Royal Birkdale

Position: 61st

Score: 285 (68, 73, 70, 74)

2018 | Carnoustie

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 149 (73, 76)

2019 | Royal Portrush

Position: T32

Score: 285 (71, 69, 72, 73)

2021 | Royal St George’s

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 144 (72, 72)

2022 | St Andrews

Position: Missed Cut

Score: 145 (70, 75)