The changes began when Ernie decided to sell his Gulfstream IV jet after arriving at the Byron Nelson Championship. Flying an average of 100,000 miles per year can be exhausting without the right plane and the G-4 can only take a professional tour pro so far. “The Big Easy” bounces back and forth regularly from his home in Orlando to addresses in London, the Bahamas and his native South Africa.
Els then found a buyer for his G-4. “I sold it for a profit, which was very strange in today’s day and age,” Els said. “So that’s why I did it. I got a good deal on the other one.”
The “other one” is the latest G-5 plane. “In the G-5, we can go thirteen or fourteen hours. It’s nine or so in the G-4. With my schedule, that makes a big difference” he said. But Ernie will be traveling like regular folk by charter until next May until the new jet is delivered.
The last time Els flew commercial, a mix-up at the terminal left him flying coach. Wouldn’t it be terrific to be the passenger sitting next to Ernie on a non-stop flight?
Els next decision was to end his one-year relationship with management company IMG and sign on with Chubby Chandler. Chandler currently manages both Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke. Ernie is no stranger to firing his management as he has switched agents four times since ousting his longtime agent Nick Frangos in 2002.
Finally, Els has lightened his Titleist S52-1 Staff Bag by replacing the shafts on his Forged 670 Irons going for a lighter model. Els also added a 2-iron to his bag. As Ernie stated, “It isn’t part of Titleist’s actual current product range. It’s a prototype made for me. Again, it’s a classic looking blade from the player’s eye view, but actually has a slight cavity in the back of the clubhead, which just gives that extra little bit of forgiveness. With a 2-iron, even I appreciate a bit of help!”
“I just felt like I needed a change, and that was that,” Els said. “I’ve been changing quite rapidly recently, so it’s not that big a deal. But I’m looking forward to the future.”
Nice article Stacy!
But it seems like the wrong time of year to be making all these changes. And it has showed in Ernie’s play the past 2 weeks. He has finished well outside the top 20 in both events, actually in the 40’s I believe.
With the U.S. Open coming up, I sure would have kept the same equipment that I won with 3 times in 2005 already.
But hey, the “Big Easy” can do what he wants I guess. I’m just glad he made a profit on selling his G-4. 🙂
I think that Els felt that he needed to make changes in his life.
Perhaps he felt that it was the right time for him to regroup.
Who knows, maybe this might all help his mental game…