By RANDY YOUNGMAN
Four-time major champion Ernie Els, who will be competing on the 50-and-over PGA Tour Champions for the first time in 2020, has committed to play in the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club in March, California Golf & Travel has learned.
Jeff Purser, the Hoag Classic’s executive director, confirmed Els’ commitment on Friday, Jan. 10.
Els, the captain of the International team in last month’s Presidents Cup, has won 72 titles around the world, including 19 on the PGA Tour highlighted by the 1994 U.S. Open at Oakmont, the 1997 U.S. Open at Congressional, the 2002 British Open at Muirfield and the 2012 British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes.
A PGA Tour Champions official said Friday that Els will make his PGA Tour Champions debut in Hawaii at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai from Jan. 16-18. The Hoag Classic will be contested March 6-8, the 25th anniversary of the event.
