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Oakmont 'survival' test looms at U.S. Open: Els (Reuters)

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Jun 14, 2016; Oakmont, PA, USA; Ernie Els hits his tee shot on the first hole during the practice rounds …

OAKMONT, Pennsylvania (Reuters) - Ernie Els speaks from experience when he says that this week's U.S. Open at fabled Oakmont Country Club will prove to be a survival test.

The strapping South African with the silky swing, who is nicknamed "The Big Easy", won his maiden major and first U.S. tournament title in a 20-hole playoff over Scotsman Colin Montgomerie and Loren Roberts at the 1994 U.S. Open at Oakmont.