ELLAND member Ricci Roberts will not be on the bag of Ernie Els when the hottest man in golf at the moment challenges for his first win in The Masters at Augusta National on Thursday.

Though Roberts was at the side of Els as the Big Easy scored back to back wins in the WGC-CA Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida last month, Els has taken his other caddie to Augusta.

Els has been using two caddies this year – his long time bagman Roberts, from Halifax and domiciled in South Africa, and former NHL player Dan Quinn, whom he met in South Florida.

Els plans to play 26 times this year, and his policy now is that each caddie gets half of the tournaments, including the majors.

Even after those two wins in a row with Roberts on the bag, Quinn is to caddie at The Masters and Els said that won’t change.

“I know a lot of guys said I should take Ricci, but we have made a decision,” said Els. “I’ve spoken to Ricci and Dan about it, and they are happy and we’ll stick with it.

“I don’t think anybody can tell me anything more about Augusta than I already know.”

Els finished second in The Masters in 2004 and will hope to add the Green Jacket to the two US Opens and 2002 Open Championship titles he has already amassed in his distinguished career with the assistance of Roberts.

“I’ve had local caddies take me through there. I’ve had everybody take me through there. So I know exactly where everything goes.”

Els first used Quinn late last year, and he came within one five-wood into the water of winning the HSBC Championship.

Quinn, a 44-year-old Canadian, spent 14 seasons in the NHL, scoring a career-high 40 goals with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1987. He took up golf when he retired and played on the Celebrity Tour. They met a few years ago and started playing golf together.

“Found out that he was a very good hockey player. I didn’t quite know that,” said Els.

“And he played for such a long time, but he was retired for a while. Pretty easygoing guy, although he’s serious about what he does.”

The European Tour’s leading players will aim to continue their domination on the world stage so far in 2010 at the first major championship of the season when the return of Tiger Woods will undoubtedly attract much attention.

Angel Cabrera, the 2007 US Open winner, defends The Masters and leads a strong European Tour membership of Ian Poulter and Els – winners in each of the World Golf Championship events this season – Padraig Harrington, who targets a fourth major win in 11 appearances, Lee Westwood, Rory McIlroy, Charl Schwartzel, Martin Kaymer, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Luis Oosthuizen and brothers Edoardo and Franceso Molinari.

Paul Casey suffered a blow to his Masters build-up when he withdrew from the Houston Open.

England’s world No6 tweaked a muscle in his back near his left shoulder and had to pull out.