* Former world number one in foul mood
* Els criticises tour and greens staff
(Adds more quotes)
By Tony Jimenez
VIRGINIA WATER, England, May 26 (Reuters) – Course designer
Ernie Els let rip at the European Tour and Wentworth’s
greenkeeping staff on Saturday after brushing aside strong winds
to move to the fringes of contention at the PGA Championship.
The 42-year-old South African’s ire was raised after he hit
an excellent approach shot at the par-five 18th and the ball
bounded through the green into a deep bunker.
“I hit a four-iron and it pitched pin high,” Elsctold
reporters after shooting a two-under-par 70 for a five-under
aggregate of 211, six behind third-round leader Luke Donald.
“How much money did we spend on the 18th? We built a dam
there. Why in the hell was the green not holding?
“Must I be a greenkeeper here?,” the former world number one
fumed. “I spoke to (the tour’s chief referee) John Paramor at
the 15th and he said, ‘Yeah we watered last night.
“I said, ‘You’ve got to triple that. You’ve got a damn
30-mph easterly breeze blowing. Put water on the greens – you
don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure that out.”
Continued…
