‘Done in a way I didn’t like’

Ernie Els has “made peace” with his fellow South Africans and friends who joined LIV Golf.

But when it comes to those relationships with Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen, Els says “we’ve lost that camaraderie, definitely. I’m still friends with them but it’s different.”

Els is a mentor to many South African golfers, and much more than that to some of those who made it to the top of their profession. When Schwartzel moved to the Jupiter, Florida, area 13 years ago, he lived with Ernie and Liezl Els for two years. When Grace won his first PGA Tour event, the 2016 RBC Heritage, Ernie and Liezl opened their home for a celebration.

Els believes he could have been a resource for his friends as they were making career-defining decisions.

“I was disappointed they never asked me my opinion,” Els said about their decision to leave the PGA Tour and join LIV. “I had them in the foundation (in South Africa), looked after them as youngsters. They flew with me, they stayed at my house. Kind of nurtured them to get onto the PGA Tour.

“It just was done in a way I didn’t like.”

And Els, talking last week from the Chubb Classic in Naples, Florida, watched his proteges as often possible when “they played on the real tours and doing the real stuff.” But since they joined LIV, “I have not seen one golf shot.”

“They have gone about it the wrong way,” Els said about LIV, “and they’ve really upended a lot of good the game stands for. … the whole thing just doesn’t sit right.”

Still, Els understands why his friends took the money and acknowledges they have done very well financially. Schwartzel won LIV’s inaugural event and earned more than $8 million last season. Oosthuizen pocketed about $5.4 million.

Grace won the first U.S. event held by LIV and took home nearly $17 million in six months. He made $12.3 million in 14 years as a PGA Tour professional.

“As an international player and living in South Africa, it’s tough to come over here, your family, upend your whole household to join the PGA Tour,” Els said. “So I get that. But for me, no.”

Els plays occasionally with Grace, no longer sees Schwartzel and is not in touch with Oosthuizen.

“We’ve made peace,” Els said.

LIV ignored Els’ suggestions

Before players started defecting from the PGA Tour, representatives of the league financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund met with Els to discuss their plans. Els,…