World number three Ernie Els has pulled out of this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando because of fatigue, PGA Tour officials said on Monday.

According to his management company, the South African wanted a break to help prepare for next month's U.S. Masters, the first major of the year.

The three-times major champion has played the last two events on the PGA Tour, missing the cut at last week's Tampa Bay Championship five days after winning the Honda Classic.

Els, 38, had hinted he might be taking time off after battling to successive rounds of two-over-par 73 in strong gusts at Tampa Bay.

"For some reason last week I could deal with it," Els said of the winds he had shrugged off in the final round of the Honda Classic where he won his first title on U.S. soil in nearly four years.

"This week I couldn't. Maybe I was a little mentally tired and maybe I needed a little bit of a break. We'll regroup and see what happens."

The Arnold Palmer Invitational starts on Thursday when Vijay Singh will defend the title he won at Bay Hill Club last year.

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