Ernie Els ended a 10-year wait for his fourth major title after winning the British Open for the second time following Adam Scott's final-round collapse at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
(CNN) -- When Ernie Els won the U.S. Open in 1994, he was the first South African to claim a major golf title in 16 years.
Perhaps more importantly, he was the first to win one since the end of apartheid and the start of the "Rainbow Nation" -- his victory at Pennsylvania's Oakmont Country Club came less than two month's after the country's historic elections in which Nelson Mandela was voted president.
So when Els won his fourth major crown on Sunday after Australian Adam Scott capitulated on the closing holes of the British Open, the 42-year-old knew who to thank.
"A lot of the Olympic theme this year has got President Mandela in it, so he's been very much in my thoughts," Els said of the celebrated former anti-apartheid activist, who turned 94 last week.
"Believe it or not, I was lying watching cricket (South Africa against England) and I was just kind of day-dreaming and that thought came through me in a split second.
Fourth major victory for the 'Big Easy'
Ernie Els of South Africa celebrates with the Claret Jug after his victory during the final round of play at the British Open at the Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in England on Sunday, July 22. See all the action as it unfolds here.
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"If I win, I told myself, I'd better thank President Mandela because I grew up in the era of the apartheid, and then changing into the democratic era President Mandela was right there.
"Right after the change I was the first one to win a major, so there's a lot of significance there in my life. In a way we intertwined together in a crazy way and I just felt he's been so important for us being where we are today as a nation and as sports people."
Els has joined an elite group of golfers -- including Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen and Lee Trevino -- who have won two Opens on either side of the Atlantic.
His earlier successes led the way for compatriots Retief Goosen, who won the U.S. Open in 2001 and 2004, Trevor Immelman (2008 Masters winner) and two players he has helped develop through his golf foundation -- Louis Oosthuizen (2010 British Open) and Charl Schwartzel (2011 Masters).
Giving it back: Els' off-course passions
Els' unexpected victory at Royal Lytham and St. Annes, coming 10 years since his 2002 British Open victory at Muirfield, has been hailed by his compatriots.
"Thank you for lifting SA flag high to de world of golf. You are an inspiration to all South African kids," Jabu Likhele wrote on Els' Facebook page.
Hugo Myburgh posted: "Truly an inspiration to every South African, that no matter what's happened over years of suffering and struggle can and has been overcome and a true smile reflects that!!!"
Others paid tribute to Els' work with raising awareness of autism, a condition which afflicts his son Ben.
"As a 4 times a year hacker of a golfer and a father of a 26 year old son with severe autism I want to say way to go Ernie winning the Open after all you and your family have been through what a triumph!" wrote Brad Doyle from Phoenix, Arizona.
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Nine-year-old Ben Els was watching on television in London while his father conjured up an unlikely victory at the Lancashire links course in north-west England.
"I made a lot of putts with Ben in mind because I know Ben's watching," Els, who has raised millions towards building an autism research center, told reporters.
"He loves when I hit golf balls -- he's always there. He comes with me. He loves the flight of the ball and the sound.
"I know he was watching. He gets really excited and I wanted to keep him excited, so I made a lot of putts for him."
Els was supposed to have headed straight to Canada for a PGA Tour event, but has delayed that so he can celebrate with Ben, wife Liezl and daughter Samantha.
"Ben's coming through now nicely. He's a wonderful boy now and he's a bright boy, so we're going to have a lot of fun."
Els has now won major titles in three different decades, but not along ago it appeared that the former world No. 1's days as a contender were over.
He failed to qualify for this year's Masters after throwing away a winning position during a PGA Tour event in March, but he rebounded with a ninth-place finish at last month's U.S. Open as he was again in the title mix on the final day.
"Not too many people win majors at my age, it means so much more, it feels so special," he told CNN.
"You're almost blase in a way when you're young. It was like okay, you knew you were going to win and here we go. When you get older and you've gone through the mill a bit like I have, this is so special."
Last year Els, known as the "Big Easy" for his languid playing style and relaxed manner, dropped out of the top-50 rankings for the first time since 1993.
He has now moved back up to 15th, and paid tribute to his coach Claude Harmon -- the latest in a line of top instructors from that family, including his father Butch (who also worked with Els) and his namesake grandfather.
"He's helped me immensely with my game, with confidence and so forth. I'm very grateful to Claude, he's one of many in that circle around me," Els said.
"He's one of many I want to thank, but obviously Claude is right at the top of the list."
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It topped a big week for South Africans, whose former president Nelson Mandela turned 94 on July 18. He is seen here with former U.S. leader Bill Clinton at his home in Qunu the day before his birthday.
While Els thanked "Madiba" after his victory, other sporting figures also paid tribute to South Africa's anti-apartheid hero. Here top riders at the Tour de France wait behind a poster of Mandela.
Els was the first South African golfer to win a major title after Mandela came to power in 1994. They are seen here before the final round of the 1996 South African PGA Championship.
Els, inspired by his son Ben, has raised millions of dollars through his autism charity with events such as his "Els for Autism" Pro-am at The PGA National Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Ernie Els tosses his golf ball to the gallery after a birdie putt on the 18th green on Sunday.
Ernie Els reacts to a birdie putt on the 18th green Sunday.
Adam Scott of Australia reacts to a missed par putt on the 18th green Sunday.
Adam Scott reacts to a bogey on the 17th green Sunday.
Adam Scott plays a bunker shot on the 15th hole Sunday.
Adam Scott gestures on the 9th green during his final round on Sunday.
Adam Scott looks at his putting line on a green Sunday.
Ernie Els reacts to a birdie putt on the 18th green Sunday.
Ernie Els reacts to a birdie putt on the 18th green Sunday.
Adam Scott plays out of a bunker on Sunday.
Ernie Els hits his second shot on the 15th hole Sunday.
Ernie Els tees off on the 14th hole Sunday.
Tiger Woods of the United States tries to works his way out of a bunker on the sixth hole Sunday.
Tiger Woods stumbles and watches the path of his bunker shot on the sixth hole Sunday.
Overall leader Adam Scott of Australia hits his tee shot on the fifth hole Sunday.
Scott and caddie Steve Williams watch the action on the first hole Sunday.
Ernie Els of South Africa, who began the day at -5, waves to spectators from the the on the first hole as he begins the final round Sunday.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland watches his tee shot on the second hole as Scott looks on.
Woods, who had several bogies on the day, hits his approach shot on the second hole during the final round Sunday.
Woods tips his cap to the crowd on Sunday.
Overall leader Scott, left, waits with McDowell on the first tee during the final round of play.
McDowell tees off on the first hole Sunday.
Scott, who started the day at -11, tees off on the first hole of the final round Sunday.
Andres Romero of Argentina, right, and his guest caddie, soccer player Carlos Tevez of Manchester City, watch the action from the tee on the 12th hole Sunday.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays out of a bunker on the 10th hole Sunday.
K.J. Choi of Korea plays a shot in front of the gallery.
Brandt Snedeker of the United States, who started the day in second place at -7, hits his tee shot on the first hole Sunday.
Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium, who finished with a 279 at one under par, plays a shot from the rough on the 18th hole Sunday.
Adam Scott of Australia hits an approach shot on Saturday, July 21, at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in England during the third round of the British Open on Saturday. Scott finished with a four-shot lead going into the final round of golf's oldest major championship
Tiger Woods hits his second shot on the 17th hole on Saturday. Woods finished the third round alone in fourth place, five shots behind Adam Scott.
Brandt Snedeker of the United States wears a ribbon in sympathy for the Aurora, Colorado, shootings during the third round of the British Open on Saturday.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland celebrates making a putt for birdie on Saturday. McDowell and Brandt Snedeker are tied for second, four shots behind leader Adam Scott.
Tiger Woods putts on the 18th green as Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark looks on Saturday. Woods is seeking his first major championship since the 2008 U.S. Open.
Adam Scott of Australia reacts to his putt on the sixth hole on Saturday.
Adam Scott celebrates making a putt for birdie on the eighth hole.
Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark putts on he 18th green. Olesen is in seventh place heading into the final round at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, which is hosting the Open Championship for the 11th time.
Adam Scott of Australia walks to the 16th tee on Saturday.
Jason Dufner of the United States reacts to a missed putt on the 17th green. Dufner struggled to shoot 73 on Saturday and is 10 shots out of the lead.
Tiger Woods hits his tee shot on the 17th hole on Saturday.
Spectators watch Olesen extract himself from one of Royal Lytham & St. Annes' many bunkers on Saturday.
Tiger Woods makes some calculations before teeing off at No. 5.
Ernie Els of South Africa hits an approach shot. Els, a three-time major champion, is tied for fifth place with American Zach Johnson, six shots out of the lead.
Woods follows through on his drive at the fifth.
Woods waits to play on the 18th green.
Adam Scott tees off on the fifth hole.
Woods scrambles out of a greenside bunker after hitting the ball close on fifth hole.
Wind whips the flag on the first green at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.
Scott pulls a club as caddie Steve Williams looks on.
Woods recently eclipsed Jack Nicklaus in career wins and is currently No.1 on the PGA Tour money list.
Graeme McDowell tees off on the fifth hole.
Ernie Els follows through on his swing at the first hole.
McDowell squats to line up a putt on the second green.
Olesen blasts out of a bunker at the third hole.
The crowd watches American golfer Bubba Watson, this year's Masters champion.
Snedeker reacts to a poor shot on the 11th hole.
Olesen hits a shot from a bunker on the seventh hole.
Woods celebrates a birdie at No. 6.
Scott rears back for a drive on No.5
Snedeker hits his tee shot on the first hole Saturday.
Olesen watches his tee shot on the first hole as Woods prepares to play.
Spectators at the Open Championship enjoy Saturday's play in ideal golf weather.
Scott follows through on a tee shot.
Mark Calcavecchia of the United States laughs with wife (and caddie) Brenda in the third round.
Lee Westwood of England hits his approach to the 18th green.
Golfers must dress appropriately to play in the Open. Rules for fans are more relaxed.
American John Daly swings at the fifth hole. Daly, who won the Open in 1995, struggled to a 77 Saturday and is in next-to-last place.
Woods follows through.
Bubba Watson tees off at No.5
Fans of young American star Rickie Fowler fans pose in the bleachers at No. 18, dressed in their hero's customary bright, monochrome colors.
Sweden's Alexander Noren fires a fairway wood shot over the long grass at the 11th hole Saturday.
Ireland's Padraig Harrington blasts from a bunker on the 18th hole Saturday.
Rory McIlroy sits as he waits to tee off on the 16th hole.
India's Keev Milkha Singh tries to escape from deep rough.
Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa searches for a lost ball on the third hole. Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open champion, was tied with several players in 10th place after Saturday's play.
Golfer Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand waves to the gallery after making a putt on Saturday.
Luke Donald of England talks with caddie John McLaren.
Els prepares to play on the first tee Saturday.
Spectators follow the flight of Snedeker's ball after a shot from the rough during the second round of the British Open on Friday, July 20
Woods celebrates after holing out from a bunker for birdie on the 18th hole, finishing Friday's second round with a three-under-par 67.
Woods takes practice swings at No. 15 under gray wisps of clouds during Friday's round.
England's Ian Poulter walks off the 18th green during the second round on Friday.
Woods intently watches his chip shot on the 14th hole during the second round.
Australia's Aaron Baddeley follows the flight of a shot during Friday's second round.
A view of leaderboard during the second round on July 20.
Kevin Na plays a shot left-handed during the second round on July 20.
Tiger Woods of the United States tees off on the 11th hole Friday, July 20.
Zach Johnson of the United States watches his tee shot on the 14th hole during the second round Friday.
Ian Poulter of England reacts after missing a birdie putt on the 13th green Friday.
Aaron Baddeley of Australia plays a bunker shot on the fourth hole during the second round Friday.
Vijay Singh of Fiji plays out of the rough on the 13th hole on Friday.
TV towers loom over the course during the second round Friday.
Tiger Woods of the United States reacts to a shot on the seventh hole during the second round Friday.
Matt Kuchar of the United States acknowledges the crowd on the 16th green during the second round Friday.
John Daly of the United States hits a shot from the rough on the 18th hole during the second round Friday.
A marshal gestures during the second round on Friday.
Aerial view of the seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th holes during the second round Friday.
Tiger Woods of the United States hits his second shot on the second hole during the second round Friday.
Brandt Snedeker of the United States tees off on the fifth hole during the second round Friday.
Angel Cabrera of Argentina walks with his group off the fourth tee during the second round of the 141st Open Championship
Zach Johnson of the United States watches his tee shot on the first hole during the second round Friday.
Adam Scott of Australia waits on the fifth hole during the second round Friday.
Keegan Bradley of the United States hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during the second round Friday.
Padraig Harrington of Ireland hits a shot during the second round Friday.
Rory Mcllroy of Northern Ireland reacts to a missed putt on the 17th green during the second round Friday.
Robert Allenby of Australia and his caddy, Darren May, walk alongside a pheasant on the sixth fairway during the second round of the 141st Open Championship on Friday.
Luke Donald of England tees off on the fifth hole during the second round on Friday.
Luke Donald of England hits his tee shot on the 11th hole during the second round on Friday.
John Daly of the United States speaks with his caddy, Peter Van Der Riet, on the second fairway during Friday's second round.
Richard Sterne of South Africa hits from a greenside bunker on the 11th hole during the second round Friday.
Rickie Fowler of the United States reacts after a putt on the 12th green during the second round Friday.
Members of the grounds crew clear water on the course Friday during the second round.
Sergio Garcia of Spain and Tiger Woods of the United States look on at the first tee during the second round Friday.
Harris English of the United States plays a shot from the rough on the sixth hole during the second round on Friday.
Spectators enjoy the action during the second round on Friday.
Tiger Woods makes a tough shot from the rough during the first round of the British Open on Thursday, July 19. Woods finished the Round 3 under par at 67.
Phil Mickelson of the United States hits his tee shot on the 11th hole on Thursday.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland lines up a putt on the ninth green on Thursday.
Jason Blue of Bristol gets medical attention after he was struck by Rory McIlroy's golf ball on the 15th hole on Thursday.
Jason Blue of Bristol poses with a golf glove given to him by Rory McIlroy after he was struck by his golf ball on Thursday.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits his second shot on the 14th hole on Thursday.
Brandt Snedeker of the United States reacts to his putt on the 18th hole during the first round on Thursday.
Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium hits his tee shot on the first hole Thursday.
Charles Howell III of the United States plays a shot from the rough on the 14th hole during the first round Thursday.
Spectators watch the action as Sergio Garcia of Spain hits a tee shot during the first round Thursday.
Luke Donald of England hits his third shot on the seventh hole during the first round Thursday.
Phil Mickelson of the United States searches for his golf ball on the eighth hole Thursday.
Padraig Harrington of Ireland hits a shot from the rough on the sixth hole Thursday.
Jbe Kruger of South Africa makes some moves Thursday.
Scottish golfer Paul Lawrie plays a shot from the rough on the eighth hole Thursday.
A fan keeps an eye on first-round action Thursday.
With caddie Michael Waite at his side, Lee Westwood of England removes his jacket during the first round Thursday.
Bubba Watson of the United States hits a tee shot on the fifth hole Thursday.
Fans receive the signal to remain silent during the first round Thursday.
Junior spectators take in the action during the first round Thursday.
Rickie Fowler of the United States walks off the first tee Thursday.
American Zach Johnson watches his iron shot from the second fairway Thursday.
South African Ernie Els waves to the gallery on the 18th hole during the first round Thursday.
Woods reacts to missing a putt on the 13th green Thursday.
Amid a sea of spectators, Woods plays a shot to the green on the 14th hole Thursday.
Adam Scott of Australia plays out of the rough on the second hole Thursday under the watchful eyes of spectators.
Scott looks at the lie of his ball in the deep rough on the 18th hole Thursday.
Golf fans don matching Union Jack suits for early action Thursday, the first day of the British Open.
John Daly of the United States attempts a shot from well off the fairway on the second hole Thursday.
Watson tries to escape a bunker on the seventh hole Thursday.
Ryo Ishikawa of Japan tees off on the fifth hole Thursday.
Spectators lean in to follow a shot out of the rough from Garcia on Thursday.
Garcia, left, lines up a putt Thursday with the help of his caddie Gary Matthews on the second green.
Amateur golfer Alan Dunbar of Northern Ireland leaps up to get a better view on the second hole during the first round of play Thursday.
Bill Haas of the United States plays a shot from a bunker Thursday.
Vijay Singh of Fiji reacts after playing a shot on the third hole Thursday.
The former world No. 1swings his son Ben over his shoulder during the fourth annual Els for Autism Pro-Am charity golf tournament, held in March 2012.
Els often returns to his native South Africa for vacations with his wife Liezl, Ben and daughter Samantha. He has invested heavily in the Cape region where he grew up, opening a golf foundation for disadvantaged youngsters, a wine and restaurant business and a resort.
Els (pictured with Liezl with Ben in 2011) says he has met some families with three autistic children and admitted it would be "one of the hardest things in the world."
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