Asians blame Europeans in Els row

SINGAPORE -- Asian Tour organizers claim that the European Tour has caused the problems which have prompted a row over Ernie Els's absence from the Volvo Masters this week.

Els and British Ryder Cup player Lee Westwood have been highly critical over the scheduling of the Masters to clash with the Singapore Open this week.

World number four Els could lose his place as leader of the European Order of Merit because he is unable to play in Spain, having already committed to the Asian Tour event here.

Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose of England and Swedes Niclas Fasth and Henrik Stenson can overhaul him and claim the Harry Vardon Trophy.

Asian Tour chief Kyi Hla Han put the blame for the clash on the Europeans.

"We announced the Barclays Singapore Open in May last year and the European Tour issued their schedule in November. They knew the dates of the tournament," he said.

"If they wanted to move they could have moved. Basically, they only have themselves to blame for players not being there."

Scot Colin Montgomerie criticized Els and Westwood for missing the Masters.

"The Order of Merit meant a lot to me and it obviously does not to others," Montgomerie, who topped the standings a record eight times, told the BBC.

"This should have been their priority. I would never, ever miss this."

Els was quick to respond. "He wants to make noise and news for himself so I'm taking it with a grain of salt.

"If he asked me what the real issue was he'd understand. He's an international player and he didn't get in (Singapore) this week, so he's just shooting his mouth off."

Relations between the two Tours have deteriorated this year following the announcement in April of the inaugural Indian Masters in 2008.

Han said it was an unethical step because the Europeans organized the event without the involvement of the Asian Tour.

The announcement of another European event in South Korea next year, again without the Asian Tour involvement, heightened feelings.

Han said he is baffled by developments.

"When I took over the management last October we were talking and relations were going good," he said.

"The European Tour had promised us that whenever they came into Asia they would only come at the invitation of the Asian Tour and they broke that.

"It's best to ask them why they are doing this. We have had eight co-sanctioned events in Asia since 1999 and it's been working out quite amicably and suddenly they are changing it.

"We are not asking for more, we just asking for the same co-sanctioned agreements that we have." E-mail to a friend