Jacques van der Westhuyzen

By Jacques van der Westhuyzen

Head of Sport


WATCH: Golf superstar Ernie Els wishes Boks good luck for World Cup final

The Boks take on their arch-rivals, the All Blacks, in Paris on Saturday night.


South African golf icon and four-time Major winner Ernie Els has wished the Springboks the best of luck for the World Cup final against the All Blacks in Paris on Saturday.

A huge Bok fan, Els posted a video on social media on Wednesday wishing captain Siya Kolisi and the players well as the South African national rugby team go in search of a fourth World Cup title. The All Blacks are also chasing a record fourth title.

Els says he is “heartbroken” that he could not secure a visa in time to make it to the game at the Stade de France in Paris and then goes on to say how “proud” he is of the Boks who have again contributed so much to nation-building in South African.

“To win that fourth one would be unbelievable. Good luck and kick some arse,” says Els, with his trademark cheeky smile.

Watch the video clip here:

Els, who won the US Open twice and the British Open twice as well, has been a Bok fan from a young age and has always made an effort to watch the team in action.

He has regularly in the past visited the Boks at their team hotel to wish them luck for big matches. Els is also a huge Lions fan.

Below are some pictures of Els, who now plays on the PGA seniors tour in America, with Bok players over the years.

Ernie Els and Willie le Roux
Ernie Els with Willie le Roux in London in 2014. Picture: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
Ernis Els and Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis
Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis with Els at Twickenham. Picture: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
Ernis Els with John Smit and Os du Randt.
Els poses with John Smit and Os du Randt in 2004. Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images
Ernis Els and the Lions rugby team
Els with his favourite provincial team, the Lions, in 2016. Picture: Wessel Oosthuizen/Gallo Images

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