Ernie Els is staging his "Els for Autism" golf challenge again, and this time he has backing from SAP, one of his top corporate sponsors.
He describes it as the largest golf charity event in the world, a series of 30 tournaments from April through September, with the final being held Oct. 19-20 at The Gallery Club in Las Vegas for the low net winning team (two players) and any team that raises at least $10,000.
In the first year, the event included 1,700 golfers, 9,000 donors and raised $1.8 million.
"SAP has taken over the golf challenge, so they've come in all guns blazing this year, and I think we're going to have a wonderful time," Els said.
"I think we can double what we did last year."
The money is going toward a $30 million education and research facility in south Florida for children with autism. Els' son, Ben, is autistic, and Els has been driven in recent years to help families cope with children with autism and to help find a cure.
Els said with his own money and separate fundraising, he has reached the $9 million mark toward building the center.
PRESIDENTIAL FUTURE: Fred Couples wouldn't mind coming back as U.S. captain at the Presidents Cup for a third time.
A decision for the 2013 matches at Muirfield Village is expected in the next few months.
The Americans have won the last two times with Couples at the helm, and with Greg Norman leading the International team.
For the International side, speculation had shifted toward Nick Price, who wanted to wait until after Norman was captain, especially at Royal Melbourne last year.
Now, however, Els wonders if the Shark shouldn't get another turn.
MATCH PLAY: Els has had such a love-hate relationship with the Match Play Championship that he didn't even bother playing in 2004 and 2005. This time, he barely made it. After sitting out last week, Els slipped to No. 65 in the world. The only reason he will get into the first World Golf Championship of the year is because Phil Mickelson is not playing.
Els is desperate to play in such tournaments as he tries to get into the top 50 to avoid missing the Masters.
Els wouldn't have to worry about the Masters if he had won a green jacket. His closest call came in 2004, when he was tied for the lead until Mickelson holed an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole.
Now, he owes one to Mickelson for getting into the Match Play.
"I'll buy Phil a steak dinner this week at some point," Els said with a smile. "Maybe send him a good bottle of Bordeaux."
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