Ernie has been let down by the European Tour

Ernie Els has every right to feel angry that a daft rule will prevent him from playing in this week’s Race to Dubai finale.

The South African has been a staunch supporter of the European Tour over the years, finding time to play events all around the world.

He’s been one of golf’s best-ever ambassadors, popular wherever he goes.

But he won’t be in Dubai because he has failed to play in two of the three previous weeks of the European Tour’s new Final Series.

That also applies to Sergio Garcia and former Masters Champion Charl Schwartzel.

The sponsors and spectators are deprived because the field is automatically weaker than it should be.

No-one will take their place, so instead of the final 60, it will only be 57, which is unsatisfactory.

This is supposed to be our equivalent of the US Tour’s FedEx Cup, but can you imagine one of their Top 30 not playing in the season-ending Tour Championship? No, nor can I.

I’ve known Ernie and his wife, Liezl, for a long time, and for him to be so worked up about this decision tells me everything.

Ernie has already played 16 counting events on this season’s circuit.

He’s been to South Africa, the Middle East and China, and won the BMW Open in Germany in mid-summer.

He even flew back from America, where he’s now based, to support the Dunhill Links at St Andrews, when the leading British players were noticeable by their absence.

The minimum number of events for full membership in Europe is 12, so Ernie found room for four on top of that and has more than fulfilled his obligations.

I can see what the Tour was trying to do with this rule, but it’s backfired.

Golfers are self-employed and are free to play wherever they like. They don’t like too many rules and restrictions being imposed upon them.

I remember in 1981 when Seve was told PGA members couldn’t receive appearance money for tournaments.

But guys were coming over from America and being paid so he simply resigned his membership and played wherever he wanted because he was the best player in the world.

The dispute even resulted in Seve missing that year’s Ryder Cup at Walton Heath.

Now, the European Tour has to be careful otherwise they’ll force its best players to have to decide between Europe and America and they’d choose the PGA Tour without hesitation.

Most tournaments are led by your best players. They make an event what it is.

The DP World Tour Championship is a great tournament on a great course and should celebrate the best of European golf.

Let’s hope this issue can be sorted out and we won’t have any big-name absentees next year.