 Els is unhappy with the demands made by the PGA Tour |
Ernie Els has slammed the PGA Tour, just as he was confirmed as the European Order of Merit winner for the second year in a row. The South African will take the title after rival Retief Goosen stated he was not playing in next week's Madrid Open.
But the world number two is unhappy after the PGA Tour asked him to devote more time to their circuit.
"There's a world outside America and I'm part of it. They can't restrict me from playing where I want," said Els.
After this weekend's World Match Play championship, Els will have played 15 events on both sides of the Atlantic this season.
The minimum requirement for the US Tour is 15 tournaments per season while in Europe it is 11 and Els has met that every year for the past decade.
 |  I am not hurting their tour at all with my schedule |
However, the PGA Tour has sent a letter to Els expressing their wish that he competes more in America and less in other countries.
"They need to understand that I think the golfing world has changed through the years," said Els.
"They want over 20 and nothing abroad.
"It means if I want to go play in Dubai I've got to ask them for a release and for that release I need to give them one extra tournament.
"Well, I don't want to go that far. It's been on my mind all year and after this letter we'll sit down and talk because they sent quite a strong letter to me.
"I am not hurting their tour at all with my schedule. I'm not hurting other players on their tour because none of them will do what I'm doing. So I'm not hurting anybody.
 Els and Seve Ballesteros both have five Match Play titles |
"I've been doing this all my life. You can't start telling me `hey, come over here and leave the rest of the world.' It's not going to happen that way."
Despite the row, Els is full of optimism as he bids for a record sixth World Match Play title at Wentworth this week.
He has a luxurious house near the 16th hole at the affluent Surrey estate and enjoys a fine record at the west course.
"No long flights, no time change, sleep in my own bed and wake up to play a great golf course at the bottom of my garden," he said. "Wonderful!"
Seeds are not given byes this year so Els will be in action on day one.
The world number two faces Scott Drummond, the Scot who emerged from golfing obscurity to win the PGA Championship, also at Wentworth, in May.
| Usually you have to make tons of birdies or it's game over |
Els, seeded to play world number one Vijay Singh in Sunday's final, has been encouraged by a recent improvement in his driving.
"Every golfer knows what a huge plus it is if you're driving the ball well," he said.
"It just sets you up to be able to attack the pins with your second shots. That's really got to be your game plan in match play. You've usually got to make a ton of birdies in this game... or it's game over!!
He admitted that playing 36 holes for four successive days would be a challenging prospect. "In years gone by I've been seeded, which means I'd never have to play on a Thursday," he explained.
"That's always been a slight advantage come the weekend, simply because you're a little bit fresher than the guy you're playing against who has maybe had to play an extra 36 holes."
MMIX
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