JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Rory McIlroy will be keeping a promise to fellow major champion Ernie Els when he lines up in the South African Open this week as the European Tour begins a new calendar year.
Els is player-host of the second oldest national Open championship in world golf and extracted the commitment when he played in the 2014 Irish Open, which is hosted by McIlroy’s Foundation.
“Rory was very serious about coming to South Africa when I told him he ‘owed me one’ at the Irish Open,” said Els.
“He’ll be the man to beat.