Els brings sunshine on cloudy Fancourt day

Stimpmeter · February 14, 2026, 6:15pm

MJ Daffue surged to 13 under with a sparkling 64 to lead the NTT Data Men’s Pro-Am at Fancourt, while Ernie Els rolled back the years. MICHAEL VLISMAS reports.

Fancourt holds some special memories for Ernie Els. In 2003 he stared down Tiger Woods in an epic Presidents Cup playoff at The Links. Neither of them blinked, and eventually darkness had the final say and the Cup was shared. He also launched his foundation at Fancourt. On Saturday, Els added another special memory.

When darkness brought an end to an incomplete second round of the NTT Data Men’s Pro-Am, the 56-year-old South African settled into a glass of red wine having played his way to just five shots off the lead held by MJ Daffue. Daffue climbed to 13 under par overall with his sublime 64 on the Outeniqua course.

South Africa’s Deon Germishuys and American Hunter Logan finished their rounds on 11 under, while Zimbabwe’s Benjamin Follett-Smith is also 11 under through nine holes.

Rain on Saturday morning meant the start of the round was delayed to 11:30am. The second round will be completed on Sunday morning before the start of the final round.

But on an overcast day at Fancourt, Els certainly brought the silver lining with a round of golf that had the Fancourt residents streaming out of their homes and onto the fairways of the Montagu course he was playing.

At one stage he was seven under through 11 holes. Even though he made back-to-back bogeys on the back nine, it was a round that has given him an outside chance for Sunday.

“I really had it going at one point there and I was looking at something special,” said Els. “I think I ran out of steam. But listen, I’ll be around for the final day and if I get another run like that, I’d love to finish it off with something nice.

“It was great out there. A lot of people were coming out of their homes to watch, and a lot of my friends who I play with here. We had a good time out there. I won here in 1993, believe it or not. That’s how far back I go at Fancourt. There are many great memories for me here. So I’m looking forward to keep chipping away at my game and get it really sharp for the Investec South African Open.”

At the top of the leaderboard, Daffue is just as eager to finish off strong on Sunday, and also with an eye on the SA Open in two weeks’ time.

“My game feels close. This is my lowest round in a while and coming off the surgeries I’ve had. I am not in the Investec SA Open at present. But if I go and take care of business on Sunday and it’s my time and I win, then that will get me in.”

Photo: Sunshine Tour

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