Els receives U.S. Open special exemption

Presidents Cup International Team captain Ernie Els received a nice piece of news during the lengthy rain delay Thursday at the first round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Els is headed to Pebble Beach in June for the U.S. Open.

The USGA gave the two-time U.S. Open champ a special exemption for the second consecutive year. Els is the first player to receive consecutive exemptions since Hale Irwin in 2002 and 2003.

Els, who is partnering fellow South African Trevor Immelman this week at TPC Louisiana while also evaluating potential players for his Presidents Cup team in Australia in December, won the U.S. Open at Oakmont in 1994 and at Congressional in 1997.

This will be his third U.S. Open start at Pebble Beach, site of this year’s championship. Els finished third in 2010, two shots behind Graeme McDowell. He tied for second in 2000, 15 shots behind Tiger Woods.

His appearance at Pebble Beach this year will be his 27th U.S. Open start.

Els is among 50 players exempt from qualifying. The USGA will take the top 60 in the world rankings after next month’s PGA Championship for players not already eligible.