Els elected to World Golf Hal of Fame

South African inducted alongside two-time major winning Scot

South Africa’s Ernie Els has been elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame in the first year he was on the ballot.

A three-time major winner with 62 worldwide victories, Els received 66 per cent of the vote from a panel of esteemed journalists, golf officials and current Hall of Fame members.

Els, nicknamed ‘The Big Easy’, will be among five celebrated golfers inducted into the Hall of Fame at a special ceremony on May 9 – the same week as The Players Championship at Sawgrass.

“It makes you feel very good about what you’ve done,” said Els of his election.

There will also be some Scottish representation on this year’s Hall of Fame induction list, with St Andrews-born Jock Hutchison joining Doug Ford as entrants from the Veteran’s Category.

Hutchison won the 1920 PGA Championship and the 1921 Open Championship, while Doug Ford counted the Masters and PGA Championship amongst his 19 PGA Tour victories.

Also receiving special entry into the Hall of Fame is former US President George H W Bush, who was selected in the Lifetime Achievement Category.

PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem said Bush was in line for the award after spending a lifetime promoting the game and for offering his public support to golf with the backing the First Tee youth programme.

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered