Els, Westwood criticize European Tour

SINGAPORE, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Two well-known golfers have criticized the European Golf Tour after they were unable to compete in this weekend's season-ending Volvo Masters Tournament.

South African Ernie Els and Lee Westwood of England had contracts to play in the Asian Tour's Singapore Open.

"I just missed the cut here, I hope they're happy over there," Els told the Scotsman newspaper after a 5-over-par 76 left him with a 36-hole total of 6-over 148. "I think a lot of things have been said, but the truth's the truth and I know the truth. I'll just leave it at that."

"Everybody wants it over and done with so this mistake doesn’t happen again next year," Westwood said.

He had claimed the European Tour "mismanaged" its schedule, which prevented he and Els from playing in the Volvo Masters.

The players who missed the event at Cadiz, Spain "would be dealt with and spoken to individually," said European Tour CEO George O'Grady.