‘We’ve Got to Thank Him’: Tiger Woods’ Fierce Rival Once Made a Heartening Confession About the Golf Legend

Tiger Woods turned professional in 1996 and didn’t waste any time in establishing his name in the golf world. He even stayed in the world’s no. 1 position for 281 consecutive weeks and 683 weeks in total. 

Woods dominated the early 2000s by winning most of the major titles. However, that doesn’t mean there weren’t any other good golfers. The other top players had to be content with being second in almost every tournament as Woods was winning them. 

Years later, the South African golfer and Woods‘ professional rival, Ernie Els, revealed how Woods’ existence in the golf world affected his game and the sport entirely. 

Els has mixed feelings over Woods’ existence in the golf world!

As a competitor, the South African golfer doesn’t like having Tiger Woods as a rival. However, he believes that other golfers, including him, have benefited from having Woods playing on the Tour. 

According to Els, the 15-time major champion has brought attention to the sport and thus helped increase the purse of tournaments. “So we’ve got to thank him,” he added. 

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Notably, with Woods entering into golf world, the image of the sport has changed altogether. His lean and athletic body was different from the other golfers’ physique, which attracted many to love and idolize him. Since he started to appear in the commercials of Nike and other sponsors, the commercial value of the sport increased. Thereby, increasing the purse of tournaments. 

Tiger Woods always overpowered Ernie Els!

“I won a couple early on, so I was kind of ready to win quite a few,” Els said. “And then when Tiger came in ’97, and him winning the Masters in the way he did, that kind of threw me off a little bit.” 

He further added, “I thought I was really one of the top players, which I was. But that (Woods’) was a pretty special display of golf.” As a golfer who maintained the world no. 1 position for 9 weeks, Els was confident in winning more titles; however, according to him, Woods “absolutely changed the game.” Furthermore, he added, “But … I could have had a couple more, definitely, without him around.” 

Interestingly, Woods and Els have played in the same PGA Tour event 213 times, in which Woods has won 52 times and the latter 10. Additionally, they have finished either as winner or runner-up in eight championships. 

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With Woods, the world of professional golf changed for good. Therefore, although Els doesn’t like Woods for winning titles over him, he cannot help but thank him for the attraction the sport now gets.