SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) Ernie Els is considering cutting his golf schedule even more to spend time with his family, saying life on the road after 25 seasons as a pro is getting "tougher and tougher."
The four-time major winner has already slowed down over the past few years and played 19 tournaments on the U.S. PGA Tour and just seven solely European Tour events last season. The 44-year-old Els expects to trim that again, he said at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, his first tournament in a month.
The South African, who turned professional in 1989, said that with his daughter Samantha now 14 years old and son Ben 11 "there are other things that come into play."
"It's always been difficult leaving the house, but now you really see your kids growing up and it gets more difficult," Els said this week.
He almost skipped the Nedbank to stay on vacation with his family, and had to send Samantha back home to Florida on her own to write exams while he set off in search of a fourth title at Sun City.