Punch-bag injury forces Els to rest

Whatever psychological blows Tiger Woods has inflicted on Ernie Els, nothing has hurt the Open champion more than the punch with which he injured his wrist a fortnight ago. Els has a punch bag in his garage at Wentworth to work out his frustrations and it is probably a good thing for both their sakes that man and bag are separated by the Atlantic Ocean.

Els yesterday withdrew from the US Players Championship, the biggest tournament of the season so far which begins tomorrow. The world No 2 had ice treatment on his right wrist during the Bay Hill Invitational but the injury flared up during the third round.

While Woods went on to his fourth successive victory in the event, Els finished with rounds of 72 and 77 and decided he needed to rest with the Masters coming up in less than three weeks. "In hindsight Ernie should probably have stopped playing at Bay Hill," said his manager, Nic Frangos.

"I am disappointed I can't play this week but given the soreness I felt this morning I knew there was no way," Els said. The tournament also lost the world No 3 when Phil Mickelson decided to remain with his family following the birth of his son, Evan.

After suffering from food poisoning during his victory on Sunday, Woods rested at home on Monday and played just nine holes yesterday morning but reported he was still feeling the after-effects.

This event offers the largest official first prize in the game, this year $1.17m (£800,000), and is generally established as the most prestigious title outside the majors. This does not seem to be enough for Tim Finchem, the commissioner of the US Tour, who has been talking about unilaterally designating the tournament as a major championship.

This was news to the world No 1. "It's probably the tournament next to the majors but I don't think it ranks up there in the major category," said the 2001 Players champion. By playing the week before, Woods said, he did prepare specifically for the event as he does a major but as his last tournament prior to the Masters it was "always good to leave here on a positive note".

Asked the difference between the Players, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, and the majors, Woods said: "History." The winner of last year's Players has become a quiz question with New Zealander Craig Perks as the answer. The unknown chipped in twice on the last three holes and birdied the 17th but has subsequent returned to obscurity. "After I won I basically disappeared," he said. He is using the five-year exemption to make changes to his game to make him more consistent.

"My wife and I still pinch ourselves and wonder if it really happened. Coming back here driving down the street and seeing my ugly face on all the posters is really nice."