Ernie Els Wins in Hawaii

Originally posted on The Morning Read | By Alex Miceli | Last updated Jan 20, 2025 3:46 PM ET

After shooting a final round 66, Ernie Els walked up the hill from the 18^thgreen and turned to Bernhard Langer and said, “Finally Got You.”

Els is not alone, as Langer has been the nemesis of many on the Champions Tour, and since 2020, when the South African debuted on the over-50 Tour, he has had to deal with the win leader.

On Sunday in Hawaii, the 55-year-old walked away with the trophy, winning for the seventh time when he captured the

Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.

The two-shot victory over Alex Cejka, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Langer came as Els came after a long vacation in South Africa, where Els said he played a lot of golf with friends and drank some beers.

“Getting it done under the gun, very tight race all day, all week really,” Els said of the competition. “I had to make some clutch putts. Even if you don't believe in yourself as much, days like this when you make those putts like you used to, it gives you hope again. I want to build on this

one and get better and better as the year goes on.”

Recently named the Champions Tour Player of the Year by the Golf Writers Association of America for his three-win season in 2024, Els knows he has what it takes to win more on this tour.

“It's a hell of a tour, you know. I haven't fired on all cylinders yet, but hopefully, I can start getting to my potential the way I'd like to play,” Els said, self-assessing his game. “

Saying that, even if I play to my potential, sometimes it's not enough; the guys are so good out here. They really play really great golf and you've got to do some really special things to win golf tournaments out here.”

This article first appeared on The Morning Read and was syndicated with permission.

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