Els offers apology to chiefs

Ernie Els has apologised to European Tour chief executive George O'Grady for his expletive-laced criticism of Wentworth this week.

O'Grady said in a statement on Sunday: "Ernie Els asked to see me this morning and apologised for his intemperate language following the conclusion of his round on Saturday.

"He stated that he had already apologised to all the individuals concerned and offered a substantial donation to the European Tour Benevolent Trust, which I accepted.

"The European Tour now consider this matter closed."

Els was in danger of being fined by the Tour after complaining about the amount of water on the course he re-designed.

"I'm p****d off," he had said. "Put water on the f****** greens. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out.

"I can't control the wind and it seems like I can't control the bloody greens staff either.

"I'm fed up with this. Must I be a greenkeeper here? It's not my bloody job - surely it's their job and surely they've been around a long enough time.

"I just wish I could get through to some of these guys. It's like talking to this wall behind me. Somebody is not doing their job."