The Loop

Els rings opening bell at New York Stock Exchange

August 28, 2012

It was a busy day for Ernie Els and the claret jug.

The 2012 British Open champion, joined by his wife, Liezl, and Deutsche Bank CEO Seth Waugh, rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday morning.

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Photo taken by Ben Hider/New York Stock Exchange

"Ernie was awesome," Waugh said. "He walked the jug up Wall Street and around the floor. He was the pied piper and posed with everyone."

After playing in the Barclays this weekend at Bethpage Black on Long Island, Els hosted a private pro-am to benefit his Els for Autism charity at Deepdale G.C. in Manhasset on Monday. Els and golf's most-recognized trophy then hauled to the center of the financial world to promote the 10th annual Deutsche Bank Championship, being held at TPC Boston, as well as his charity.

Golfers who've also rung the bell in recent years include Sergio Garcia in 2005, who had won the Barclays Classic played at Westchester two times in four years, Tiger Woods in 2007, as a part of a Manhattan tour to promote his video game, making stops at NBC's Today Show, MTV and ESPN before the '07 Deutsche Bank, and Phil Mickelson in 2008, in August before the Barclays.