Every year, Region Tradition It has become one of the most anticipated golf events in Alabama as the PGA Champions Tour's best converge on Greystone Country Club in the Magic City.

Last year, PGA legend and four-time major winner Ernie Els finished tied for second at 17 under par, six strokes behind winner Steve Stricker.

I spoke with Els. Yellow Hammer News Ahead of this year's Regions Tradition tournament, he talks about his career and the biggest stories in golf.

Are you enjoying life on the Champions Tour and how is it different from the PGA Tour?

“It's a lot different from the PGA Tour, as you'd expect, but I'm really enjoying it. It's fun competing against guys my age. We're all really motivated and still work hard on our game and our fitness. When you're over 50, it takes a little while to warm up, but seriously, the standard is so high that you really have to work really hard to win here.”

Golf is obviously going through a lot of change right now, with the LIV Tour, the DP World Tour. Have you received an offer from LIV? What do you think about it?

“No, I haven't been offered the opportunity, but I wouldn't have said yes anyway. Look, I know some Saudi Arabian players and they love golf with all their hearts. But the current format of LIV is not proper golf. It just wouldn't have been for me, no matter what stage I was at in my career.”

You were very critical of PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan after your LIV deal last year. It seems you've put that on hold, but what are your thoughts now? And has your opinion changed in the past year?

“No, not really. Of course I hope they can resolve their differences because this mess is not good for our sport. We'll just have to wait and see what happens. But the fact is, in my opinion, the LIV golf format doesn't work the way they have it right now. Maybe there's a place for team golf in the global schedule. Maybe we'll get a few teams together and play a two-month fun season, so to speak. But the rest of the year, let's play real golf.”

There was a long gap between your first PGA Tour win at age 25 and your last at age 43. What was your peak year and how did you adapt over that long career?

“It's hard to pinpoint an exact time, but probably since the mid-'90s, maybe 10-15 years later. Obviously I'm always working on every aspect of my game and my mindset, trying to find ways to get better. That's always the case with players at the top level. As the old saying goes, if you stand still, you're likely going backwards.”

You won your first major championship in 1994 after an 18-hole playoff at the U.S. Open at Oakmont. The U.S. Open was the only major tournament to be decided by an 18-hole playoff. In 2018, it was changed to a more similar format to the other majors. What do you think about this change? And do you remember winning on the fifth day in 1994?

“I understand the reasons for the change. Logically it makes a lot of sense. But as a player I think it would be better to have an 18-hole playoff. That would probably be a fairer way to decide things. Day 5 in 1994 was a brutal day. It had been scorching hot all week and by Monday everyone was hot and tired, and the golf course was in shambles with the heat. I started the round a bit disorganized, but I kept my cool and played well, shooting three over par on what I thought was the hardest course I'd ever played. Putting well all week was the key.”

You also won the British Open in a four-hole playoff with four other players. Is your mindset different in a four-hole playoff on the day compared to an 18-hole playoff the next day?

“That was completely different. I was in control for most of the final round but then I made a few mistakes and that changed everything. I remember just before we went into the playoff, Jos VanStiphout, who I was training with at the time, told me to pull my fingers out of my ass!” [laughs] That was exactly what I needed to hear, and it got me focused on what was to come, rather than what had just happened. I had to make a hole-in on the 18th hole that hurt my knee a little bit, but wow, it was a great hole. It was a relief at first, and then you start to enjoy it.”

You've done a lot of charity work through the Else for Autism Foundation, do you feel you've been able to use your ability as a celebrity in golf to make a positive impact on autism awareness?

“Exactly. That's what we were trying to do when we started the foundation in 2009. Using my name has really helped make it happen. It's amazing how far we've come in a relatively short period of time. Florida has some amazing facilities. [The Els Center of Excellence] We and our team are doing amazing work, supported by a generous and loyal family of partners, donors and sponsors. For Liesel and me, it's such a humbling feeling. Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves, but of course, this is something we are very proud of. The work we do at the Foundation is literally positively impacting the lives of autistic people all over the world, and of course their families. This will be our life's work.”

Of the four majors, what is your favorite course and favorite win?

“That's a tough question. Whenever I'm asked that question I always pick my top three courses so Royal Melbourne, Oakmont and Muirfield – in no particular order. My four major wins are ranked the same as my kids', so they're equally favourites. [laughs]. “

You've finished second twice at the Masters. Would you trade any of your four major titles for a green jacket?

“That's easy. No.”

What impact do you think it will have on the Champions Tour if Tiger Woods eventually joins?

“You can imagine what that would be like. Obviously it would generate a lot of interest from fans, television and sponsors. Tiger is the biggest star in our sport and that will always remain the case. For the tour, this would definitely be a win-win.”

If you could enter one event with an exemption every year for the rest of your career, which one would you choose?

“To be honest with you, I don't think of myself as a ceremonial golfer. I love to compete, I love to play to win and that's what's always driven me. If that was gone, I don't think I'd have the same feeling about playing.”

Tickets to watch Els and other PGA Tour champions compete in the Legion Tradition this Wednesday at Greystone Country Club in Birmingham. You can purchase it here.

Michael Browner is a senior sports analyst and contributor to Yellow Hammer News. You can follow him on Twitter. translation: