|
 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 Jan. 16-19.
"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 in a statement.
"I apologize for the inconvenience and late notice of the decision
and look forward to playing in South Africa again soon," he said a
statement issued on Thursday.
Last month, Els, who lives in Florida in the U.S, said he was
cutting his 2014 schedule, finding it hard to go on the road without
his family.
[to top of second column] |
"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 traveling
... but things change."
Currently ranked 27th in the world, Els, who was won more than
$46-million in prize money, said traveling was "tougher and
tougher."
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
