Ernie Els is upset with the US PGA Tour.
He says the US tour wants him to play more events there. But Els considers himself a world player, and wants to keep it that way.
"I think they need to understand that I think the golfing world has changed through the years," the South African said on the eve of yesterday's first round of World Match Play championship, which was delayed for two-and-a-half hours by heavy rain that left some of the greens flooded.
"There's a world outside America and I'm part of it. Don't start putting a padlock around me because it's not going to work," he said.
Els, who is seeking a record sixth victory in the unique 36-hole event, said he planned to talk with US tour commissioner Tim Finchem.
"They can't restrict me from playing where I want to play," he added. "We'll get to the bottom of it. I'm sure it won't be a big issue because I play a full schedule in America."
He said the problem has been bothering him for some time.
"It's been on my mind all year. They sent quite a strong letter to me and I'm preparing a letter to send back to them, and after this letter we'll sit down and talk," he said.
Els is determined to remain an international player, and still plans to play more than the minimum 15 required by the American tour.
"I thought my schedule this year was really nice, the way I've got it now. I think this year I'll have 17 in the US It might be 18 over there and 13 over here.
"But they want more. They want me to play more than 20 over there. I'm definitely not hurting their tour at all with my schedule or any of their players at all, because none of them will do what I'm doing. I'm just helping the European Tour. I am playing all over the world," he said.
Els' first-round opponent yesterday was to be Scott Drummond of Scotland, who beat Els and the rest of the field with a closing 64 to win the Volvo PGA in May over the same West Course at Wentworth.
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