Ernie Els was wearing his contact lenses when Donald Trump made his hole-in-one: 'I saw it clearly'

JUPITER — Ernie Els says it's true.

He saw Donald Trump's tee shot last weekend on the 7th hole at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach bounce twice, run to the flag, hit the stick and drop in the hole.

"We're all watching and I'm like, 'this thing is looking good,' " Els said Monday. "It bounces and I got my contact lenses in. I saw it clearly.

"We throw our clubs in the air. You know, 'it's unbelievable.' You play with the ex-president and he makes a hole-in-one. How many times does that happen? That's the thing that goes through your mind."

Ernie Els plays golf with Donald Trump at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach

Els, who lives in Jupiter, and Trump were playing with professionals Gene Sauers, Ken Duke and Mike Goodes on the course about five miles from Trump's home in Palm Beach. Els said he had eight birdies and Trump also birdied No. 15.

"He had a good day," Els said. "He was really in good spirits. ... We had dinner the night before. I don't normally play too much on the weekends. (Trump) insisted I get my ass out there and play."

Trump's version of his hole-in-one — the former president issued a statement describing the shot — has been questioned. After all, this is a man about which a book was written called: Commander in Cheat: How Golf Explains Trump. 

On Monday, Els celebrated the groundbreaking ceremony for the Stoops Family Foundation Adult Services Building at The Els Center of Excellence, which will serve adults with autism. He was asked about Trump's hole-in-one afterward.

Ernie Els explains how Trump made the hole-in-one

Els confirmed the hole was 181 yards. Trump, he said, "walked through" the 5-iron, something Trump told Els that he learned from Gary Player, the 86-year-old, nine-time major champion who lives on Jupiter Island. 

"Gary told him to put your whole body into the shot," Els said, moving forward as he mimics a golf swing. "He did the walk through with the shot. He hits it right on the wind. I can hear it. I'm looking, I'm standing behind him.

"He walks through it. He's not really watching it. He's kind of getting to the cart ... he drives his cart on the tee there. I think he got a kick out of it."

Els saw Trump pick the ball out of the hole. "He was kind of low key."

When Els heard some people questioned if this was another unsubstantiated claim by Trump, he said, "I saw that. That was amazing."

Still, he did say Trump is not unlike other leaders he has played golf with.

"To be honest, I've played with many, many presidents and prime ministers, heads of state around the globe," said Els, who is from South Africa. "I still have to see one that plays it out. In his defense, I haven't seen too many of them that play out.

So, he might embellish? "Yeah. Some of them pick 3-footers up. Why not?"

Els, 52, is a Hall of Famer, former world No. 1 and four-time major winner who currently plays on the PGA Tour Champions. He and his wife, Liezl, established The Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter.  Els met Trump in 1997 at the PGA Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club outside of New York City. 

Els' scouting report on the man who is believed to have played more golf than any other president while in office:

"He hits the ball better than I've seen any ... I mean he's 75. But he can really strike the ball. He makes good contact. He's got a good swing.

"Like any amateur, you got to do the short game practice. I keep talking to him about his chipping. He's a pretty good putter. Back in his day, he had to be a 4- or 5-handicap. Today, he's probably a 10, 12."