Rickie Fowler always has had a flair for the dramatic.
Fowler, from Murrieta in Southern California, made a hole in one on that was worth $1 million for Els for Autism, Ernie Els’ charity foundation.
The 113-yard ace came at the end of the day at the Cigar Aficionado-Wine Spectator Pro-Am at Old Palm Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., where Fowler had finished his round, changed from golf shoes to sneakers and used a club borrowed from Luke Donald.
“This man is my hero,” Els told the audience after grabbing Fowler in a bearhug and lifting him off the ground as the crowd roared its approval.
Said Fowler: “It doesn’t happen very often and it’s pretty cool to do it for Ernie and the foundation.”
Els, known as “The Big Easy,” and his wife, Liezl, established their foundation in 2009 after discovering that their son Ben, now 12, is autistic.
The Els’ raised enough money to build the Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, Fla., which opened last August. The center includes an educational program for 300 students ages 3-21, in addition to applied research, medical and professional service programs.
The $1 million Hole-In-One Challenge was sponsored by SAP and Ketel One Vodka, and the payout will come from an insurance policy.
Fowler was the 17th player to shoot for the ace, following the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel, Keegan Bradley, Louis Oosthuizen, Nick Price, Retief Goosen, Donald and Els.
