It is a Sunday to remember for Ernie Els.
The 54-year-old World Golf Hall of Fame member captured his first senior major title, winning the 2024 Kaulig Companies Championship with a one-stroke win over Y.E. Yang, who carded the low final round at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. For Els, it was his third win of the 2024 season in his 13th start, and it also secured him a spot in the 2025 Players Championship on the PGA Tour.
“I’ve been watching my fellow players have a lot of success, like Steve (Stricker) and Bernhard (Langer) and many other players, Freddie Couples,” Els said. “I mean, most of my peers have had more wins than me since I’ve joined here at the Champions Tour, so I really felt I needed to up my game a bit.”
Els, who last month was named Golfweek’s Father of the Year, is the first three-time winner of the 2024 season on PGA Tour Champions, and he moves to No. 1 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
He shot 2-under 68 on Sunday to secure the victory. He will take home $525,000. Yang, who shot 66 on Sunday, earned $308,000 for his effort.
Jerry Kelly placed solo third, and K.J. Choi and Steve Stricker tied for fourth.
Els is heading across the pond to play in the Open Championship next week, or else tonight would’ve been memorable.
“It’s a pity I have to fly tonight, it could have been a big bar tab this evening at the Firestone Country Club,” Els said. “I would have been buying a lot of beers, but we’ll have to wait for another time.”