As Ernie Els’ Albany Course Becomes the Setting For Tiger Woods’ Re-Entry, the 47YO Was Once Involved in an Ugly Rivalry With the South African Legend

Tiger Woods’ return to the green has the eyes of the golf world hawking! The golfer’s recent announcement about his professional comeback has stirred a gush of anticipation among the golfing community—players and fans alike. Now, all eyes are set on seeing how the legend performs after a prolonged break of nearly 10 months.

In the midst of this anticipation, what has caught people’s attention is an old tale of rivalry. This year, the Hero World Challenge, the 15-time major winner’s return grounds, will be hosted by Ernie Els—the 19x PGA Tour champion with an etching nemesis history with Woods.

The WGC-Accenture clash between Ernie Els and Tiger Woods

The tale dates back to the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in 2010, when a storm brewed and Ernie Els directed sharp criticism at the golf legend. The reigning PGA Tour champion, Woods, was going through a rough patch at the time. Fresh out of his marriage and postponement news had the golf world and fans raged. Soon after taking a three-month break from the greens, the golfer made a return announcement at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship, and Els took issue with the 47-year-old’s decision to break his silence on a “Friday”—a move the South African deemed “selfish” and untimely.

As longtime rivals, Els didn’t mince words. He expressed his disapproval of Woods’ choice to make a significant announcement during a major tournament. According to the South African star, Fridays were not the appropriate day for such revelations, especially when they risked overshadowing the ongoing golf competition. He argued that this decision took away from the essence of the tournament, impacting not only the players but also the sponsors—Accenture. 

Els went on to assert that Mondays were more suitable for making statements, emphasizing the potential negative consequences of Woods’ timing. The criticism wasn’t just a personal jab but a reflection of the broader challenges the golf pro faced during this tumultuous period in his career, marked by personal issues and controversies.

That incident, surprisingly, wasn’t the only instance of rivalry between the two golf stars. Over the course of Els career, they’ve battled many times, and in 2019, the South African great even went on to open up about their eternal headbutting on and off the course!

Ernie Els got honest about his and Woods’ rivalry with the Presidents Cup at the helm

In an interview in 2019, Els reflected on his long-standing rivalry with the 82-time PGA Tour winner. The player acknowledged the 15-time major winner as one of the best of their generation, and so the rivalry came with the atmosphere they were a part of. That year, as the International team captain at the Presidents Cup, Els aimed to secure a victory—facing off against Woods, who was also the captain and played for the U.S. team.

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While chatting, Els humorously mentioned his desire to “kick their asses” while recognizing the challenge that might come ahead. The Presidents Cup has historically been dominated by the U.S., and in ’19, Els was seeking to shift the competition’s dynamics. His wish, however, remained unfulfilled when Woods and Team USA won the 2019 Presidents Cup anyway with a final score of 16-14.

The incident, at that time, added a layer of tension to an already buzzing rivalry between the two big entities. Now, years later, a slightly similar, if not a copy, occurrence again has the golf world nervous. The spectacle at the Bahamans is going to be a must. Let’s see what the future holds.

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