In-form Els upstaged by hockey-playing caddie

VANCOUVER - World Golf Hall of Famer Ernie Els is not used to being upstaged by his caddie, but with a former National Hockey League player carrying his clubs at the Canadian Open, 'Big Easy' must take a back seat.

Els is a former world No 1 and three-times major winner, but caddie Dan Quinn played for a Stanley Cup and in hockey-mad Canada that trumps a Claret Jug.

"I think he had 12 guys around him (looking for autographs) and one around me," chuckled Els, after firing a tidy opening round two-under 68 on Thursday.