Ernie Els, a 2011 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee, is a South African professional golfer. He has won four major championships: the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997, The Open Championship in 2002 and 2012, and the PGA Championship in 2012. Els has also won numerous other tournaments around the world, including the World Match Play Championship five times. He is known for his smooth swing and consistent play. Els is one of the most successful golfers of all time and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation.