Els considers Fowler’s $1 million ace a ‘miracle’
Ernie Els is still pinching himself. He can’t believe Rickie Fowler made a hole-in-one on Monday that raised $1 million for his foundation and its autism-related work.
On Monday at Old Palm Golf Club in Florida, Fowler was one of nearly two dozen pros who competed in a pro-am event to raise money for Els for Autism, which delivers programs and education for children with autism, including funding the Els Center for Excellence, a school which opened in 2015 in Jupiter, Fla.
After the tournament was over, pros had an opportunity to play a 19th hole, a 113-yard shot which, if anyone aced, would trigger the $1 million donation from an insurance policy purchased by tournament sponsors SAP and Ketel One. Following some valiant attempts by his fellow players, Fowler, changed out of his golf shoes and into sneakers, borrowed Luke Donald’s pitching wedge and took his shot.
The ball disappeared. The crowd erupted. Els’ wife, Liezl, cried, while the four-time major winner lifted Fowler in the air.
“It’s like a miracle,” Els said, according to ESPN.
The Els’ created the foundation and its autism-specific cause when they learned their son, Ben, now 13, is on the autism spectrum. The family moved from London to West Palm Beach, Fla., in search of better educational resources and medical care.
“(The $1 million) makes a huge impact immediately,” he added. “It’s brilliant.”
Even better, South African billionaire and Els friend, Johann Rupert, matched the $1 million donation. Combined with the more than $800,000 raised before Fowler’s shot, the day raised nearly $3 million for Els for Autism. That kind of capital means the foundation can move forward with an upper school on the existing Center for Excellence property.
Els agrees with his wife that Fowler’s ace was something beyond their control.
“That’s the first thing Liezl said. ‘I think the hand [of God] came down today.’ It’s kind of one of those things. You’ve got to agree with her,” Els said. “These things happen maybe once in 10 years. It doesn’t really happen. It was really amazing.”
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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