Latest news with #Els
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Ernie Els backs South Africa to make Rugby Championship history
The Springboks stormed to the title in 2024, beating New Zealand and Australia home and away en route to be crowned the Southern Hemisphere's best team for the first time since 2019. Their success in the four-team tournament, which also includes Argentina, followed on from their 2023 Rugby World Cup triumph over the All Blacks, retaining the Webb Ellis Cup they won in 2019. It continues a golden period for South African rugby, which sees Rassie Erasmus' charges currently ranked the number one side in the world. Els, a four-time major winner, former world number one and World Golf Hall of Famer, makes no secret of his love of the sport having played it at school, and thinks South Africa are primed to continue their success. 'There are some big teams in the Rugby Championship, but we're in a good spot at the moment," he said, speaking at the launch of his new golf club, Els Club Vilamoura. "But we don't want to get too cocky. New Zealand are going to be strong." The 2025 Rugby Championship kicks off on 16 August with South Africa taking on Australia at Ellis Park, Johannesberg while New Zealand travel to Argentina. The Springboks then host Australia again before travelling to New Zealand for both of their Round 3 and 4 contests. South Africa round off the competition with home and away clashes with Los Pumas, who beat them 29-28 in Santiago del Estero to deny them a clean sweep of wins last year. Els is South Africa's second-most decorated golfer, having triumphed at the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and The Open in 2002 and 2012. His daughter Samantha played international rugby for USA in 2022 before making her debut for South Africa in 2023. Els played a nine-hole exhibition to open the Els Club Vilamoura alongside Scottish legend Colin Montgomerie and 2001 Open Champion David Duval. The Algarve course is a championship-standard 18-hole golf course that features a luxury clubhouse and signature amenities such as the 261 Bar, and was built on the redesigned Victoria course, which hosted the Portugal Masters from 2007 to 2022. It will host the new PGA Champions Tour event, the Portugal Invitational, after signing a five-year deal. The first edition of the event is set to be held between 31 July to 2 August 2026. Els said: 'Golf is in the pretty sweet spot at the moment and [creating this course] has been a really nice venture. We want the conditions to be absolutely perfect and for people to have a great experience and good food.' Montgomerie added: 'The golf course is superb, and the clubhouse is fantastic. It's not just a course for the present; it's a course for the future as well.' PGA TOUR Champions announces the Portugal Invitational to be held at The Els Club Vilamoura on course designed by Ernie Els. PGA TOUR Champions, Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal, and Turismo de Algarve will deliver a five-year partnership and will debut the week of July 27, 2026, and will feature a field of 78 players. For more information visit
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Ernie Els calls for The Open to return to Muirfield in 2028
Muirfield is one of The Open's iconic venues and has hosted golf's original major 16 times, behind only St Andrews on the current rota of 10 courses the event goes to. But it has not been seen since 2013, due in part to a row between The R&A and The Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, which owns the course. Muirfield was briefly excluded from hosting The Open in 2016 after it failed to secure the two-thirds majority required in a vote on the admission of female members, though that was reverted when the motion was eventually passed a year later. However, The R&A are said to be reluctant to keep the event in Scotland in successive years and with St Andrews locked into hosting every five years, that leaves less room for the four other Scottish courses. Additionally, the Scottish Open, which is traditionally held the week before The Open, has landed next door to Muirfield at the Renaissance Club. That brings logistical challenges and questions over whether the local area can take two huge events in back-to-back weeks. 'Yes Muirfield should host [The Open] as soon as possible,' Els said, speaking at the launch of his new golf club, Els Club Vilamoura. 'I'm not sure why it's not gone back there. It's been more than 10 years. Normally there is a 10-year gap between Opens at a particular course. 'In my view, Muirfield is up there, it's in my top three [courses].' "I've been here 30 years, so very nice to play this tournament."@TheBig_Easy knows how special it is to play at Sunningdale 🤩 — PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) July 24, 2025 Fortune might help Muirfield stage The Open in 2028. The R&A are yet to announce their plans but they are due to be disrupted by the Los Angeles Olympics, which have been scheduled for mid-July, two weeks earlier than usual. That has caused a massive headache for The Open, which will have to change its usual mid-July date to allow players to compete in both. The 2028 Open was rumoured to be returning to Royal St George's in Kent but with August providing less daylight, it is likely to be inconceivable, with 16 hours needed. As well as Muirfield, two-time US Open champion Els also threw his support behind courses such as Turnberry and Royal Lytham & St Annes – where he won his second Claret Jug - but admitted alterations to those three courses would be needed. He continued: 'A lot of these courses need some length now. These youngsters are hitting it so far. I think that's the problem. So, let's wait and see.' Els played a nine-hole exhibition to open the Els Club Vilamoura alongside Scottish legend Colin Montgomerie and 2001 Open Champion David Duval. The Algarve course is a championship-standard 18-hole golf course that features a luxury clubhouse and signature amenities such as the 261 Bar, and was built on the redesigned Victoria course, which hosted the Portugal Masters from 2007 to 2022. It will host the new PGA Champions Tour event, the Portugal Invitational, after signing a five-year deal. The first edition of the event is set to be held between 31 July to 2 August 2026. Els said: 'Golf is in the pretty sweet spot at the moment and [creating this course] has been a really nice venture. We want the conditions to be absolutely perfect and for people to have a great experience and good food.' Montgomerie added: 'The golf course is superb, and the clubhouse is fantastic. It's not just a course for the present; it's a course for the future as well.' PGA TOUR Champions announces the Portugal Invitational to be held at The Els Club Vilamoura on course designed by Ernie Els. PGA TOUR Champions, Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal, and Turismo de Algarve will deliver a five-year partnership and will debut the week of July 27, 2026, and will feature a field of 78 players. For more information visit
South Wales Argus
7 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Argus
Els launches new Portuguese golf club alongside Montgomerie and Duval
The four-time major champion played a nine-hole exhibition to open the Els Club Vilamoura with Scottish legend Colin Montgomerie and 2001 Open Champion David Duval. Els Club Vilamoura, is a championship-standard 18-hole golf course, designed by Els, that features a luxury clubhouse and signature amenities such as the 261 Bar, and was built on the previous Victoria course, which hosted the Portugal Masters from 2007 to 2022. Els, who won the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and two Open crowns in 2002 and 2012, invited Montgomerie and Duval to play the course, as well as Portuguese Champions League winner Luis Figo and former England striker Peter Crouch. Els Club, Vilamoura has been built in partnership with English investment fund Arrow Global and management company DETAILS and is the first private-members club in the Algarve (Image: Portugal Invitational) Els said of his new club: 'I've been coming to Vilamoura for many years, I've spent many summers with my family here and we just love Portugal. 'Golf is in a pretty sweet spot at the moment and [creating this course] has been a really nice venture. 'We want the conditions to be absolutely perfect and for people to have a great experience and good food.' Els Club, Vilamoura has been built in partnership with English investment fund Arrow Global and management company DETAILS and is the first private-members club in the Algarve. Membership is extended only to those proposed by founder members or those invited by the club. During a press conference on the morning of the Els Club launch, it was also announced the course would host the new PGA Champions Tour event, the Portugal Invitational after signing a five-year deal. The first edition of the event is set to be held between 31 July to 2 August 2026 and has been brought about through the work of The PGA Tour Champions, Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve. A field of 78 players will be welcomed to the new track with the likes of Bernhard Langer and Miguel Ángel Jimenez set to compete at the event that boasts a whopping prize purse of £2.23million ($3m). PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady said: 'This Tour is a global showcase of the game's legendary players, and we know the great golf fans in Portugal and throughout Europe will welcome the opportunity to watch them compete in person at The Els Club Vilamoura.' Els added: 'It's wonderful to see those plans now coming to fruition and we're grateful to PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady, the team at Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve, for sharing in our vision and bringing this exciting new tournament here.' Vilamoura is just a 25-minute drive from Faro airport, which boasts connections to 90 airports worldwide, and is also just a two-hour drive from Lisbon. The resort is rich in culture, gastronomy and outdoor activities and is home to its famous marina which is a multiple winner of the Yacht Harbour Association's Best International Marina award. Montgomerie said: 'The golf course is superb, and the clubhouse is fantastic. It's not just a course for the present; it's a course for the future as well,' while Duval added: 'It'll be much anticipated for everybody on the Champions Tour, and I struggle to see how it won't be a huge success a year from now.' PGA TOUR Champions announces the Portugal Invitational to be held at The Els Club Vilamoura on course designed by Ernie Els. PGA TOUR Champions, Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal, and Turismo de Algarve will deliver a five-year partnership and will debut the week of July 27, 2026, and will feature a field of 78 players. For more information visit
North Wales Chronicle
7 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Els launches new Portuguese golf club alongside Montgomerie and Duval
The four-time major champion played a nine-hole exhibition to open the Els Club Vilamoura with Scottish legend Colin Montgomerie and 2001 Open Champion David Duval. Els Club Vilamoura, is a championship-standard 18-hole golf course, designed by Els, that features a luxury clubhouse and signature amenities such as the 261 Bar, and was built on the previous Victoria course, which hosted the Portugal Masters from 2007 to 2022. Els, who won the US Open in 1994 and 1997 and two Open crowns in 2002 and 2012, invited Montgomerie and Duval to play the course, as well as Portuguese Champions League winner Luis Figo and former England striker Peter Crouch. Els Club, Vilamoura has been built in partnership with English investment fund Arrow Global and management company DETAILS and is the first private-members club in the Algarve (Image: Portugal Invitational) Els said of his new club: 'I've been coming to Vilamoura for many years, I've spent many summers with my family here and we just love Portugal. 'Golf is in a pretty sweet spot at the moment and [creating this course] has been a really nice venture. 'We want the conditions to be absolutely perfect and for people to have a great experience and good food.' Els Club, Vilamoura has been built in partnership with English investment fund Arrow Global and management company DETAILS and is the first private-members club in the Algarve. Membership is extended only to those proposed by founder members or those invited by the club. During a press conference on the morning of the Els Club launch, it was also announced the course would host the new PGA Champions Tour event, the Portugal Invitational after signing a five-year deal. The first edition of the event is set to be held between 31 July to 2 August 2026 and has been brought about through the work of The PGA Tour Champions, Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve. A field of 78 players will be welcomed to the new track with the likes of Bernhard Langer and Miguel Ángel Jimenez set to compete at the event that boasts a whopping prize purse of £2.23million ($3m). PGA Tour Champions President Miller Brady said: 'This Tour is a global showcase of the game's legendary players, and we know the great golf fans in Portugal and throughout Europe will welcome the opportunity to watch them compete in person at The Els Club Vilamoura.' Els added: 'It's wonderful to see those plans now coming to fruition and we're grateful to PGA TOUR Champions President Miller Brady, the team at Arrow Global Group and Turismo de Portugal and Turismo de Algarve, for sharing in our vision and bringing this exciting new tournament here.' Vilamoura is just a 25-minute drive from Faro airport, which boasts connections to 90 airports worldwide, and is also just a two-hour drive from Lisbon. The resort is rich in culture, gastronomy and outdoor activities and is home to its famous marina which is a multiple winner of the Yacht Harbour Association's Best International Marina award. Montgomerie said: 'The golf course is superb, and the clubhouse is fantastic. It's not just a course for the present; it's a course for the future as well,' while Duval added: 'It'll be much anticipated for everybody on the Champions Tour, and I struggle to see how it won't be a huge success a year from now.' PGA TOUR Champions announces the Portugal Invitational to be held at The Els Club Vilamoura on course designed by Ernie Els. PGA TOUR Champions, Arrow Global Group, Turismo de Portugal, and Turismo de Algarve will deliver a five-year partnership and will debut the week of July 27, 2026, and will feature a field of 78 players. For more information visit
IOL News
24-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
How rising inflation affects interest rates in South Africa
Although inflation in South Africa has edged up slightly, economists believe that interest rate cuts are still likely – and necessary – as the overall price environment remains subdued even though prices are expected to continue to rise. June's consumer price index (CPI) rose to 3%, up from May's 2.8%, marking the first time in three months that inflation has returned to within the South African Reserve Bank's (SARB) 3% to 6% target range. Despite this small increase, inflation remains low by historical standards and well below the 5.2% seen a year ago. Old Mutual chief economist Johann Els said that while food prices, particularly red meat, were a touch higher than expected, partly due to the effects of foot-and-mouth disease, most categories remained muted. 'Consumer goods inflation is still very subdued,' he said, with clothing, furniture, and appliances still in negative territory year-on-year and core inflation slipping to 2.9%. This paints a picture of an economy with weak pricing pressure, which Els argued justifies a further 0.25 percentage point cut to interest rates at the Monetary Policy Committee meeting next week. Els said government has a 'window of opportunity' to announce a reduced 3% target for inflation. SARB governor Lesetja Kganyago has been pushing for a lower inflation target, although this will require a National Treasury policy change. 'If we miss this window of opportunity over the next few months, it's going to be more difficult for the Reserve Bank to get inflation down sustainably to 3%' as it will start drifting upwards into next year, he says. Els said that inflation is expected to rise moderately through the rest of the year, approaching 4% by December. 'If we miss this window, it will become more difficult for the Reserve Bank to sustainably bring inflation closer to 3% once it starts drifting upwards again.'
