Citing fatigue, Els withdraws from Arnold Palmer Invitational

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Citing fatigue, Ernie Els withdraws from Arnold Palmer Invitational this week

ORLANDO, Florida (AP) -- Ernie Els withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Monday because of fatigue, two weeks after winning on the PGA TOUR for the first time in three years.

According to Els' management company, he was tired and needed rest before the Masters next month.

Els ended a winless drought of 47 tournaments on the PGA Tour when he captured The Honda Classic at the start of the Florida swing more than a week ago. He played last week at the PODS Championship, where he missed the cut by one stroke.

Els is expected to play next week in the World Golf Championships-CA Championship at Doral, and he has said he would play in the Shell Houston Open before going to the Masters.

The Arnold Palmer Invitational still has 30 of the top 50 players in the world ranking, including Tiger Woods, who will be going for his fifth consecutive PGA TOUR win.