All change for Ernie Els

About the only thing Ernie Els hasn't changed the last few weeks is his caddie.

First, the Big Easy sold his G-4 plane when he got to Dallas for the Byron Nelson Championship. Then he switched the shafts in his irons, going to lighter models. And during his two weeks at home in London, he ended his one-year relationship with IMG and will switch to British agent Chubby Chandler.

This will be his fourth agent since leaving longtime manager Nick Frangos in 2002.

``I just felt like I needed a change, and that was that,'' Els said Tuesday. ``I've been changing quite rapidly recently, so it's not that big a deal. But I'm looking forward to the future.''

Chandler also handles Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.

As for the plane?

Els is upgrading to a G-5, but he'll have to wait until next May before it is delivered. He said the G-5 has a range that is about four hours more than his old plane, important for a guy who travels the globe.

``I sold it for a profit, which was very strange in today's day and age,'' Els said. ``So that's why I did it. I got a good deal on the other one.''

Els is flying by charter until he gets the new plane.

``Otherwise, we would have flown here by British Airways or something,'' he said. The last time Els flew commercial, a mix-up put him in the middle seat in coach.

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