Ernie Els is considering cutting his golf schedule even more to spend time with his family, saying life on the road after 25 seasons as a pro is getting “tougher and tougher.”

The four-time major winner has eased back over the past few years and played just 19 tournaments on the US PGA Tour and seven solely European Tour events last season.

The 44-year-old expects to trim that again, he said at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, his first tournament in a month.

The South African, who turned professional in 1989, said that with his daughter Samantha now 14 years old and son Ben 11 “there are other things that come into play.”

“It’s always been difficult leaving the house, but now you really see your kids growing up and it gets more difficult,” Els said this week.

He almost skipped the Nedbank to stay on vacation with his family, and had to send Samantha back home to Florida on her own to write exams while he set off in search of a fourth title at Sun City.

Els is recognising the trend with a couple of other players on tour.

“Family life is important and you don’t want to miss out on their best years before they leave the house,” he said. “A lot of us are in that boat now. Phil (Mickelson) has kids the same age as mine, so does (Steve) Stricker. Guys get to my age and your kids get to teenage years and it becomes a bit of a difficult scenario.

“The younger guys don’t have too many hassles travelling … but things change.

Lightning ruined the opening day of the event and halted Luke Donald’s rapid start at the 30-man invitational.

The Englishman opened with a birdie and an eagle on his first two holes and was 5 under after 11 when a second interruption for lightning ended play for the day.

Donald was two ahead of Jamie Donaldson and Thomas Bjorn while Els was struggling at 3 over after 12 holes.