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BOB HARIGChrysler Championship boasts six of the world's top-10 players after No.2 Ernie Els withdraws with an injury.
LAKE BUENA VISTA - A hand injury will prevent Ernie Els from battling for the No. ranking in the world at next week's Chrysler Championship, a blow to the tournament that has touted his presence for most of the year.
Els, 35, who has won two of his past three tournaments in Europe and is closing in on No.1-ranked Vijay Singh, informed the PGA Tour on Friday that he would not be able to play at the Westin Innisbrook Resort, where he tied for 34th last year and raved about the Copperhead course. Els' Web site on Friday had not updated his situation. Details of the injury were not available. Last year, Els missed the Players Championship after suffering a wrist injury while working out with a punching bag at his home near London. That is where Els has been since defeating Lee Westwood on Sunday in the final of the World Match Play Championship, his fifth worldwide victory this year. He originally was expected to fly this weekend to Orlando, where he has a home.
The timing of his withdrawal is unfortunate for Els, who is at odds with tour officials over the number of appearances he makes in the United States. The Chrysler was to be his 16th PGA event, followed by the Tour Championship in Atlanta. A week ago in England, Els discussed his frustration over the tour's attempts to get him to play more here and less in Europe.
Friday was the last opportunity for players to commit to the $5-million event, and the tournament received plenty of good news. Davis Love, who twice won the JCPenney Classic at Innisbrook with Beth Daniel, joined the field.
Singh, No.4 Phil Mickelson, No.5 Retief Goosen, No.6 Love, No.7 Mike Weir and No.9 Stewart Cink mean the tournament has six of the top nine in the world rankings, giving the Chrysler one of the best late-season fields.
"We envision this every year," tournament director Gerald Goodman said. "To have a top-10 field of the year on the PGA Tour. I think when it shakes out, we will again. We've been standing up and speaking to the fact. They love the golf course, and it proved out again."
The tournament got several other commitments Friday, including Stuart Appleby, David Toms, Sweden's Jesper Parnevik and U.S. Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton. He joins European counterpart Bernhard Langer in the tournament.
The Chrysler has 10 of the 12 members of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, including 2003 U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk, Chad Campbell, Kenny Perry, Jay Haas and Chris Riley. The only ones missing are Chris DiMarco, who withdrew, and Tiger Woods.
Three of the four major champions - Mickelson (Masters), Goosen (U.S. Open) and Singh (PGA Championship) - are entered.
"In the back of your mind, you're kind of hoping that Tiger would commit," Goodman said. "Our phones were ringing all day asking if he was coming. And with Ernie ... that's disappointing. We're sitting here saying that, and really we have a heck of a strong field.
"New for us is Furyk, Appleby, David Toms, Jay Haas. I can just keep going. Hal Sutton. We have a lot of good news."
The tournament has 74 of the top 100 on the tour money list. Commitments are not binding.