Angry Els hits back at jibes

Ernie Els today hit back at accusations that he is a quitter.

Els is nicknamed the "Big Easy" for his laidback attitude. But he was furious after being told that high-ranking officials of the United States Golf Association (USGA) had suggested he stopped trying when conditions turned last month's US Open into a lottery.

Just two days before the start of the Open Championship at Royal Troon, Els warned: "I'd like to meet the guy who said that. He shouldn't have said it. That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard in my life. I've never given up on any round of golf in my life. I mean, that's ridiculous."

Els, the Open champion at Muirfield two years ago, was in contention for a third US Open title going into the final round four weeks ago.

But then a sun-baked Shinnecock Hills started playing like a crazy golf course and the Surrey-based South African finished shell-shocked with an 80.

Having described Troon as being "in beautiful condition", the world No2 hit back at the USGA and the way they set up Shinnecock by insisting: "They lost the plot.

"To take one of the best courses in this entire world and to make it into a farce like that, all I can say is they've got egg on their faces. "The course was really quite unplayable. I went from second to ninth with that 80, and that tells you how ridiculous it was."

Els predicted Troon will pose a tough but fairer test. He said: "The rough is not terrible. You can get the ball out of it so that makes it more exciting. And the greens are great."