Ernie Els Rant Apology Came With 'Substantial Donation' to PGA Tour
Ernie Els rant shocked golf fans and colleagues alike at the BMW PGA Championship Saturday, and now the former no. 1 golfer has issued a statement of apology.
Ernie Els rant had to do with the greens on the Wentworth course- because conditions were so dry and hot, golfers had a tough time with the course, and he felt staff should have provided more water. However, after exploding at staff during the third round, he felt it necessary to apologize to his actions.
"Ernie Els asked to see me this morning and apologized for his intemperate language following the conclusion of his round yesterday," European Tour executive George O'Grady said in a statement Sunday. "He stated that he had already apologized to the individuals concerned."
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In addition to his repentance for his foul-mouthed rant, Els volunteered a "substantial donation to the European Tour Benevolent Trust" which was immediately accepted. The trust is established to prevent poverty among anyone who has ever participated in the PGA European Tour and their dependents.
The donation seemed to be an out for Els, who was facing a fine for his indiscretion.
The 6'3" South African golfer- nicknamed the "Big Easy" for his swing, not his temper- yelled into the microphone at the end of his round.
"Really, I am pissed off. Conditions are tough and it has been blowing all night and this morning. I've asked them to put water on the bloody greens and then I spoke to JP [chief referee John Paramour] coming up the 15th and he said we did water [the course] last night. I said 'you have to triple that,'" roared the golfer.
After that expression, though, is when things took a turn for the worse.
"You have a damn 30 mph easterly breeze blowing so put [expletive] water on the greens. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out. So now we have another situation and the guys aren't going to be very happy," Els continued.
Despite the tough conditions and Els profane rant, the pro golfer had still scored a respectable 2-under-par 70 by the end of the round.
