Els Unravels Over Wentworth Criticism

Even though there had been advance buzz that Wentworth was looking radically different, and even though the owner admitted he goofed in overruling his player-architect, and even though there was widespread media criticism of the course changes, Ernie Els lashed out at his fellow players for not keeping their opinions to themselves.  Lawrence Donegan reports:

"There is going to be criticism with any new design but I really wasn't expecting the backlash I got. I don't think anybody deserved it," the South African, below, said after completing his final round. "If they had criticisms they could've handled it differently. That's the sad part of the week – a lot of the guys I've known for a long time came out and basically put the knife in. I don't really appreciate that."

This BBC story features his comments in full. It gets worse as he plays the victim card in defending the owner who overstepped his bounds by trying to play architect.

"It's unfortunate he had to come out [and say that]," said world number seven Els who finished well down the field after a closing 72 left him three over par.

"He is the guy who spent £6.5m on the changes.

"Who on earth is going to spend that money to enhance a golf course on television and make the sponsor happy, make the players happy and then the players kick him in the teeth because they don't like a couple of holes?"

Well you do spend the money to make the holes play better, no?

South African Els admitted that changes would be made before the PGA Championship returns to Wentworth next year, particularly at the eighth and 18th holes.

"Obviously the 18th didn't quite come out the way we wanted, but we didn't need a bunch of know-all people to criticise everything. That is the disappointing part," said the three-time major winner.

Know-it-alls? Oh boy...and then he proceeds to pretty much validate the criticisms.

"Definitely 18 [will change]. I can show you the plans I drew for it at the get-go.

"I'd also like to make changes on eight, I don't like the heather on the mounds there.

"I'd even like to change the eighth green because that's another one I wanted lower. But for the rest I think it's unbelievable.

"These greens were only laid in November and December and we are now holding the biggest tournament on tour on these greens. I think it's a hell of a feat by the whole team.

"For all this money we are playing for, we could be playing down the road, not come in here like a bunch of spoiled golfers.

"If the people who made all those comments, especially the players, look back at what they said and what they achieved this week, it was all negative."

Oh I don't know, we had a nice dialogue on starting a listing to protect classic courses. That was positive!