Ernie Els has criticised the European Tour for holding the World Match Play Championship in the same week as the Singapore Open.
South African forced to miss World Match Play Championship
Ernie Els has criticised the European Tour for holding the World Match Play Championship in the same week as the Singapore Open.
The South African is unable to defend his Match Play title as he is contractually obliged by sponsor Barclays to play in Singapore - a co-sanctioned event with the Asian Tour.
It is the second time in three years that Els has found fault with the European Tour's scheduling after missing the Volvo Masters in 2007 when it too clashed with the Singapore tournament.
He was leading the Order of Merit at the time and believes his absence prevented him topping that year's money list.
"It has been a little controversial for me," said Els, who has won the World Match Play Championship a record seven times.
"The one year here the European Tour put the Volvo Masters up against the Singapore Open (in 2007 when it was an Asian Tour event) and I could not play the final event on the European Tour and it cost me the money title.
Incomprehension
"So I was not very pleased about that and the fall out from that, the criticism I got about European Tour players playing in an Asian event.
"We have got more controversy this week because of the Match Play which they have put up against the Singapore Open, I do not understand that. It is a tournament I have won seven times."
The World Match Play Championship has moved from Wentworth to Finca Cortesin in Spain this year following a break in 2008 after HSBC pulled out as headline sponsor.
