Els withdraws from next two European Tour events
FORMER world No 1 Ernie Els has withdrawn from the next two European Tour events to spend more time with his family as part of his plan to cut back on his touring schedule this year.
Els will miss the Volvo Golf Champions tournament in Durban in his native South Africa, which marks the re-start of the season after a brief break, as well as the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in the United Arab Emirates.
The Durban event starts next week while the Abu Dhabi tournament is from January 16 to 19.
“I am really sorry to miss the Volvo Golf Champions and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship but for personal reasons I have decided to remain at home with my family and play my first event once my children return to school,” the 44-year-old four-time major winner said.
Last month, Els, who lives in Florida in the US, said he was cutting his schedule for this year, finding it hard to go on the road without his family.
“It’s always been difficult leaving the house, but now you really see your kids growing up and it gets more difficult,” he said.
“Family life is important and you don’t want to miss out on their best years before they leave the house.
“Guys get to my age and your kids get to teenage years and it becomes a bit of a difficult scenario. It’s getting tougher and tougher. The younger guys don’t have too many hassles travelling . . . but things change.”
Ranked 27th in the world, Els, who has won more than $46million (R489.1million) in prize money, said travelling was “tougher and tougher“.