For the second-consecutive year, Ernie Els has been given a special exemption into the US Open.
The USGA has offered and Els has accepted the invitation to play in June at Pebble Beach Golf Links, where he finished second to Tiger Woods in the 2000 US Open that Woods won by an astounding 15 shots. For the two-time US Open winner (1994 and 1997), this will be his 27th US Open.
Looking forward to my 27th @usopengolf and my third at iconic Pebble Beach. A great honour to receive this second special exemption, thank you gentlemen @USGA. Excited to continue my story in this great championship.
— Ernie Els (@TheBig_Easy) April 25, 2019
Els holds a special play in USGA lore, just one of 19 foreign-born players to win multiple US Open titles. In 1997, he became the first international player to accomplish the feat since Alex Smith in 1910.
In the 2018 US Open, Els missed the cut at Shinnecock Hills. This year, Els will be playing as the captain of the 2019 International Presidents Cup team, headed for Australia in December to take on the Tiger Woods-led American team at Royal Melbourne.
