'Governor' on ball the answer - Els

Ernie Els, the world number two, and Ireland's Paul McGinley are leading a renewed chorus for changes in professional golf before the sport heads down the same path as Formula One.

Despite some hesitation, Els is now backing golfing greats Jack Nicklaus and Peter Thomson by agreeing that a special tournament golf ball should be introduced to cap the extraordinary distances pros are now hitting.

Any change would almost certainly mean golf-ball manufacturers taking the sport's administrators to court.

Els has already won three tournaments this season and finished second in Singapore using the new Titleist Pro V1x and, early today, was heading for a fourth win in five starts this year after again blitzing the field on the third day of the Johnnie Walker Classic here.

Els smashed a 28-year-old European Tour record after finishing nine strokes clear of his nearest rival with a second eight-under-par 64. He moved to 23 under par with a round that included an eagle and eight birdies on the Lake Karrinyup course in Perth.

The South African lowered by one stroke the previous European Tour 54-hole low of 22 under par set by Argentina's Vincente Fernandez in 1975.

He put himself in position for a sixth victory in eight starts using the new Titleist Pro V1x golf ball. 'I am not totally against technology but they do have to put a governor on the golf ball,' said Els.

'The ruling authorities might see to it that it never happens and I don't know if the pros would all agree but they should be looking at it.

'You can draw parallels with golf and what is happening in Formula One and perhaps even the administrators should just consider bringing back wooden-headed clubs.'

McGinley, who holed the winning putt that brought the Ryder Cup back to Europe, has been stunned by the distances some of his European colleagues have been hitting the ball in Perth.

'This new Titleist ball has made a massive difference. The big hitters have a two to three shot advantage over me around this golf course in Perth.'