Els focuses attention on autism
South African’s greatness far transcends game
MONTREAL — For many years, Ernie Els says, he was exactly the same as a great many parents of a child impacted by autism.
“I was trying to get my head around it, look at the future, consider the options we had as a family,” Els said Wednesday at the Royal Montreal clubhouse.
The Big Easy, as he’s affectionately known for his stature, manner and his exquisite golf swing, has moved beyond the uncertainty and the soul-searching that once troubled his thoughts.
One of the greatest professional golfers of his generation is here for the 105th RBC Canadian Open, beginning Thursday on Royal’s Blue course.
To sit alone with Els and hear him discuss his work in autism is to realize that his greatness far transcends the golf course. Today, Els and his wife, Liezl, are hugely involved in creating awareness of autism, a wide spectrum of complex disorders of brain development.
And much more, through the Els for Autism Foundation they created five years ago, the couple are currently building from the ground up the Els Centre of Excellence, a world-class facility on 27 acres in Jupiter, Fla., that will offer cutting-edge programs to help and enrich the lives of children and young adults on the autismspectrum, both locally and globally.
They have poured $6 million of their own money into the facility, its construction having begun four months ago, and they are at the fore of an ambitious fundraising effort to bring the $30-million complex to completion.
The Els’s 12-year-old son, Ben, is profoundly touched by autism, a neurological disorder that is without medical detection or cure, its cases as unique as the individuals it affects.
Fans walking Royal Montreal this week will know Els as the enormously popular 44-year-old South African who has won 70 professional tournaments, including four major championships.
A superb cricket, rugby and tennis player in his youth, Els turned his attention to golf and at age 14 won the world junior championship; two years later he was competing against pros.
He is now in his 25th year of professional golf, formerly the world’s No. 1-ranked player who three years ago was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame.
But what these fans should also know about Els is that he will be happier should his legacy not be what he achieved on the golf course, but rather for his work with autism. Only when Els began speaking publicly about the disorder, and when he and his wife created their foundation, did he realize the thunderous force of autism’s voice.
“All the community basically came alive, out of hiding almost,” Els said, his raindelayed Wednesday pro-am giving him time to talk over lunch. “People told me they were so glad we were talking about it. For so many years, people affected by autism kept it a secret or kept it to themselves. It was almost like, ‘Your kid’s different, there must be something wrong with you.’
“In many ways, there have been many depressed parents around the world. With us talking about it, they don’t feel they have to hide about it anymore. And it’s helped to educate normal families and people walking their daily lives.”
He has major interests in golf-course design, teaching, winemaking, travel, clothing and beverage businesses and restaurants. His autism foundation has international impact, reaching into Canada, and he is deeply involved in improving the education and life-skills of children of lesser means in South Africa.
His golf game could be better; Els has just one top-10 finish this season and missed the cut at last week’s British Open. He knows Royal Montreal, having enjoyed it immensely as a member of the International side in the 2007 Presidents Cup.
But there is no doubt that despite all his world fame, the two U.S. Open and two British Open titles to his name, Els is driven today by his work with autism.
He has people coming to him everywhere he goes to share their stories, to empty their hearts, to speak of how he inspires them, which further pushes him in his journey.