Top two clash ruled out

There will be no clash between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els, the world’s top two players, in Germany next week.

Woods is still making his first overseas trip of the year, but Els has pulled out of the €2.8m Deutsche Bank-SAP Open at Gut Kaden.

Back in March the South African withdrew from the Players’ Championship in Florida after injuring a wrist hitting a punch bag in the garage of his Surrey home to improve his fitness.

He was back for the Masters last month and recovered from an opening 79 to finish joint sixth.

Els’ next scheduled appearance now is the Volvo PGA championship beginning at Wentworth on Thursday week.