Ernie’s Bio

Started playing golf at age 9…An accomplished junior tennis player, turned full attention to golf at age 14…Heavily involved in junior golf of South Africa and Cancer Society of South Africa…Hosts Ernie Els Invitational in South Africa to raise money for charity. Ernie Els Foundation formed in early 1999, with the purpose of providing full support to disadvantaged children. Proceeds from the Ernie Els Invitational go to four charities and the Foundation…In December 1998, received lifetime membership on European Tour. Other non-Europeans so honored are Bob Charles, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player…In 2002, the 2000 Engelbrecht-Els wine was released and received the highest rating yet given to a South African wine…Third Ernie Els design signature golf course near George in South Africa opened in 2004…Web site is ernieels.com.

A Brief Ben Hogan Bio

In 292 career PGA Tour events, Ben Hogan finished in the Top 3 in 47.6-percent of them. He finished in the Top 10 in 241 of those 292 events.

Hogan was born near Fort Worth in 1912. Hogan and Byron Nelson were childhood acquaintances, caddying at the same Fort Worth club. They even squared off one year for the club’s caddie championship (Nelson won).

Hogan’s childhood was rough – his father committed suicide, and it is believed that Hogan witnessed the tragic event.

Hogan turned pro in 1929, at age 17, to play pro events in Texas. He didn’t join the PGA Tour until 1932. Much of his early career, Hogan battled a hook. But through a tremendous work ethic, he changed his game to a controlled fade (in his famous words, he “dug it out of the dirt”). In 1940, he began winning, and often.

He missed a couple years on Tour due to World War II, but returned full-time in 1946 and won 13 times, including his first major, the PGA. From August 1945 to February 1949, Hogan won 37 times. But in 1949, he suffered terrible injuries in a car crash, and was never again able to play a full schedule due to circulatory problems in his legs.

In fact, from 1950 on, Hogan never played more than 7 PGA Tour events in a year. Yet, he won 13 more times, including 6 majors. Until Tiger Woods did it in 2000, Hogan was the only man to win three professional majors in one season. That was in 1953, when Hogan won the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open. He was unable to play the PGA because it started too close to the finish of the British Open. From 1946 to 1953, Hogan won 9 of the 16 majors he played.

Hogan brought his same quest for perfection to the golf clubs made by the company that bore his name, and Ben Hogan Golf produced many of the finest clubs available over the years.

His demeanor on the course was quiet and focused. With others, Hogan was often distant, aloof, brusque or even rude. But he had everyone’s respect.

Ben Hogan was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974.

A Quick Tiger Bio
Tiger Woods (born Eldrick Tiger Woods, December 30, 1975) is an American professional golfer whose achievements to date rank him among the most successful golfers of all time. Currently the World No. 1, Woods was the highest paid professional athlete in 2006, having earned an estimated $100 million from winnings and endorsements. Golf Digest predicts Woods will become the world’s first billionaire athlete in 2010.

Woods has won 13 professional major golf championships, the second-most of any male player, and 62 PGA Tour events, tied for the fourth-most of all time. He has more career major wins and career PGA Tour wins than any other active golfer. He is the youngest player to achieve the Career Grand Slam, and the youngest and fastest to win 50 tournaments on Tour. Woods has held the number one position in the world rankings for the most consecutive weeks and for the greatest total number of weeks. He has been awarded PGA Player of the Year a record nine times, the Byron Nelson Award for lowest adjusted scoring average a record eight times, and has tied Jack Nicklaus’s record of leading the money list in eight different seasons. He has been named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year four times, a record he shares with Lance Armstrong.

A Brief Natalie Gulbis Bio

5’9”…Started playing golf at the age of 4…Credits her father John Gulbis as the individual most influencing her career…Hobbies include working out and running…Has her own calendar…Created The Natalie Gulbis Foundation in 2005…Qualified for the Tour on her first attempt… Represents 24 Hour Fitness, adidas, Anheuser Busch, Canon, MasterCard, RSM McGladrey, SemGroup, SkyCaddie, TaylorMade, Raymond Weil, The Ritz-Carlton, Sentient Jets and Winn Grips…Has her own Web site: www.nataliegulbis.com.