Sun City Challenge: Three-time winner Ernie Els has named Ryder Cup stars Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood as favourites to win this week's Nedbank Challenge at Sun City, South Africa.
The Gary Player Country Club course has been extended to 7,162 yards, with the 17th and 18th holes stretched to provide a testing finish, and Els reckons the Englishman and the Spaniard have what it takes to dominate.
"With the bunkering and the new, firmer greens, the approaches need to come in high in order to stop the ball quickly," said Els. "The shorter hitters have to rely on their short games a lot more."
Garcia and Westwood were Europe's top scorers in the record Ryder Cup victory at Oakland Hills, while Garcia also won twice in America this season and the Mallorca Classic in October.
"I've only played the back nine here this week but I like what I see," said Westwood, a late replacement for Darren Clarke who withdrew to look after his wife, Heather, who is ill. "The course probably needed tweaking slightly, especially the easier holes."
Westwood's last appearance at Sun City came in 2001 when he was pipped to the title by Els.
