Ernie Els has launched a scathing four-letter attack slamming the European Tour and greens staff for the condition of the Wentworth course on day three of the BMW PGA Championship.
The triple Major Champion was as furious as anyone can remember after carding a third round 70 for a five under par tally in the Tour’s flagship tournament.
Els’ temper had been simmering since the seventh hole but boiled over when his approach shot into the 18th cannoned off the green and into a back bunker, and while the champion South African managed to save par he let loose both barrels in leaving the scorer’s hut.
“I am a little disappointed as I spoke to Chris Kennedy and I spoke to the Tour. Really, I am pissed off,” said Els.
Ernie Els launches tirade at European Tour and Wentworth greens staff. (Photo - Eoin Clarke/www.golffile.ie)
“Conditions are tough and it has been blowing all night last night and this morning.
“I’ve asked them to put water on the bloody greens and then I spoke to JP (John Paramor) coming up the 15th and he said we did water it last night. I said you have to triple that. You have a damn 30mph easterly breeze blowing so put f****** water on the greens.
““You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out.
“So now we have another situation and the guys aren’t going to be very happy.
““It is difficult enough as it is with conditions the way they are but the Tour has really got to play the ball now, and the greens staff.
“I have been asking both to play ball with me for a while now and I can’t keep taking this and at some point they have to start listening.”
It was brought to Els that he had more to be worried about given his five under par was still well in contention.
However the 42-year old was so furious he felt for his fellow competitors.
“I am with the guys on this as I hit a shot on 18, a 4-iron that pitched pin high and goes through to the back bunker,” he said.
“So if they put water on the damn green you at least have a chance to hold the f****** green.
“Just play ball with me. I would love to talk to them but they don’t bloody listen and this is not problem as I cannot control the wind, and it seems like I can’t control the bloody green staff either and that is just unfortunate.
“The Tour has known about the forecast for about a week so these conditions are no surprise.
“I have been talking to the Tour and the greens staff since I landed here on Monday just to ‘please’ keep the moisture in the golf course.
“All they’ve said to me is ‘Yes, Yes, Yes , you just concentrate on playing’ is the reply I get all the time.
“I spoke to them last night and I spoke to them again this morning but it is like talking to this wall behind me. I am fed up with this. It is a difficult but fair golf course but just set it up properly and we will have a championship.”
Els levelled much of his criticism at European Tour Chief Referee, John Paramor.
“I said to JP ‘Man, whatever water you put on, triple it,” said Els.
“The 15th green is not holding, the 16th green is not holding, the 17th green is not holding and the 18th green is not holding. So they are all bloody inconsistent.
“It’s not my bloody job to do this and surely it’s their job to do this. They have been really around a long time now and I am really disappointed.
“I played really well myself and I can see guys aren’t used to these conditions and they are going to really tough time.
“I played with a really young guy today (Bernd Weisberger). He didn’t really know the coure and played so wrong shots and got himself into trouble. Guys like myself have played in these conditions and they know what to expect and how to control your ball. So you are going to have to grind out a score. You have to play certain shots now and you just can’t go and bash a driver down the course. But then I shoot 70 and he shoots 83.
“It just gets to me. I want everybody to have a fair, tough examination. I don’t want guys walking off, going ‘oh, my goodness.”
