Els upstaged by hockey-playing caddie at Canadian Open

Ernie Els hits onto the ninth green during the pro-am at the Canadian Open Golf Tournament at Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club in Vancouver July 20, 2011.

VANCOUVER (Reuters) - 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 number one 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.

"I like his energy. He's a competitive guy, playing hockey he understands professional sports and I appreciate that."

Quinn, who spent 14 years in the NHL, including parts of two seasons with the Vancouver Canucks, has caddied for Els at bigger events, including the Masters and PGA Championship, but Thursday marked the first time the Jupiter, Florida, neighbors teamed up in Canada.

Els, who won the U.S. Open in 1994 and 1997 and the 2002 British Open at Muirfield, said he is not a huge hockey fan but the South African appreciates the sport, particularly the fighting, and often watches clips the sport's greatest fights.

"We've watched those many times after a couple of beers," said Els. "I'm from South Africa and I'm a rugby fan and he reckons hockey players are tougher than rugby players, so we have big arguments."

The caddie-golfer dynamic has been a hot topic around the Canadian Open this week as Tiger Woods said on Wednesday that he was splitting with long-time bagman Steve Williams.

Prior to hiring his hockey-playing neighbor, Els worked with Ricky Roberts for more than a decade until deciding the relationship had gone stale and it was time for a change.

"I have no idea why they (Woods and Williams) split up," shrugged Els. "But Ricky and myself also split up around about the 12-year mark. I guess it's the 12-year itch.

"We still speak. We're life-long friends but it's just something that just doesn't fit anymore."

(Editing by Frank Pingue)