Ernie Els to host SA Open
The Sunshine Tour has announced that South Africa's most successful golfer of the past three decades, Ernie Els, will take on the role of host and ambassador for the South African Open Championship.
The 104th SA Open will be played in January at the Glendower Golf Club.
In addition to the SA Golf Development Board’s Chapter in Ekurhuleni, Els’ two charities, Els for Autism and the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation will become the beneficiary charities of the tournament.
Selwyn Nathan, the executive director of the Sunshine Tour, said the team behind the SA Open were delighted that Ernie accepted the role.
“We are sure his presence will go a long way to re-establishing golf’s second-oldest national championship as one of the world’s flagship events.
“Ernie’s commitment to the Sunshine Tour has been unwavering throughout his stellar career and we are grateful that he has reaffirmed this commitment to professional golf in South Africa by helping us to grow our national Open,” said Selwyn.
“I am honoured to have been offered this role and I accepted it without hesitation, as the South African Open Championship is a tournament with incredible history and has featured strongly throughout my career,” said Els.
“I look forward to working together with the Sunshine Tour to achieve our shared vision of growing the SA Open, so that it can once again take its rightful place among the most prestigious tournaments in world golf,” he added.
