TEEING IT UP FOR AUTISM

By MICK ELLIOTT The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 7, 2008

PONTE VEDRA BEACH - No longer is Ernie Els who you think he is.

The sweet golf swing, the easy demeanor, the popularity? All just a mask.

Turns out the internationally famous golfer with a Gulfstream G5 and enough skill and success at a game to keep that private jet aircraft fueled and ready, is no different from anyone else.

He is helpless.

Early this spring Els made an announcement. The perfect family photo - Ernie, wife Liezl, 8-year-old daughter Samantha, and 5-year-old son Ben - isn't perfect.

Ben suffers from autism.

And Daddy can't make it go away.

"You want your kid to be a normal kid, like everybody," Els said. "You want your kid to play sports and you want your kid to do normal things, and when it doesn't happen you kind of ask questions. You want to know the answer. And there's no simple, straight answer."

So early this spring, Els did what he knew he could. He became a spokesman, hoisting an "Autism Speaks" logo that continues to adorn his golf bag during this week's Players Championship.

"You know, I spoke to my wife obviously, and I really wanted everybody to feel comfortable coming forward talking about it, not only myself but my wife Liezl and then Samantha, our daughter," Els said before arriving at TPC Sawgrass. "Basically I feel quite worried about it because when we found out that one in every 150 kids - can you imagine? That is just unbelievable to think of that number."

Autism impairs social interaction and communication, causing restrictive and repetitive behavior that typically starts before a child is 3. It is four times more prevalent in boys than girls. The disease's effect varies in degrees and symptoms. There is no cure, although it is treatable, and with early diagnosis and intervention, full, healthy lives can be led.

At first the Els family kept it a private matter. Early on they began to suspect Ben was not normal. He didn't walk until after 2. He didn't respond when spoken to. He continually was wiggling his hands.

"I would say since he was born both myself and Liezl, we kind of heard that boys are a little bit slower to develop than girls are at a very young age," Els said. "But he just was way off from where Samantha was.

"We just thought, 'You know, maybe he's kind of a little slow in developing.' We took him to numerous doctors, numerous tests, blood tests, all kinds of tests, and put under the autism spectrum. So yeah, we've known from a very young age that Ben was affected."

Nevertheless, the 38-year-old South African's public face remained birdies and bogeys. Continually he answered questions directed at a winless streak that dated to 2004 before finally winning again at the Honda Classic in March.

He talked about a knee surgery following a tubing accident that slowed his game. He even announced a plan and commitment designed to re-engage Tiger Woods in a battle for world No. 1.

Only one problem.

Ben suffers from autism.

And Daddy can't make it go away.

"You can't but feel for the kid more than yourself because you know how lucky you are," Els said. "I'm talking about myself. To be normal and to do normal things and to basically live your dream, and now you've got a situation.

"That's the thing that really worries me, what's the future going to hold? He's still quite small and young, where young kids really accept him. But what happens when he gets older? Then you're really going to see the difference in his behavior and things like he does. You just hope that you can do the best for his future."

The first step has been a continuing one.

"You start learning more about it," Els said.

Research started on the Internet. It carried on to making contacts with other families fighting similar challenges.

"I met a family in South Africa who raised their kid who is autistic," he said. "The kid is 30 years old now. When we go on vacation in South Africa, he's always on the beach; he's a golf nut, loves playing golf. So I started playing golf with him and speaking to his parents, just finding out more about how they raised him and what they did. That helped a lot.

"Then as you learn when you go to the Internet, so many people are communicating with each other and finding out how bad some of the kids are and what stage they are at and what you did as a parent. You kind of compare notes."

In the meantime, Els prepares to move his family's permanent residence from London to South Florida, where, he has judged, the best treatment is available.

"In the U.S., they're so far ahead of the rest of the world," he said. "That's a huge factor why we made this move, to really give him the best treatment that we can get and move on from there."

Daddy wants to make it go away.

Reporter Mick Elliott can be

reached at (813) 281-2534

or melliott@tampatrib.com.