GOLF SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN:ERNIE ELS heads a stellar home cast when the 100th edition of the South African Open begins in Durban today, with the world number 12 admitting he is in good shape for the tournament.
The 41-year-old, a four-time winner of the title, will line up alongside fellow South Africans Retief Goosen, British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, Tim Clark and Charl Schwartzel.
Clark and Goosen are also former champions and will compete alongside defending champion Richie Ramsay of Scotland, Richard Sterne, James Kingston and Clinton Whitelaw, who will all be aiming for success in the co-sanctioned European and Sunshine Tour event.
Els, the highest ranked player in the field, has endured an up and down year, with his last victory coming in March.
He did manage to win the PGA Grand Slam of Golf – an unofficial four-man event – but struggled on his most recent appearance in the Nedbank Challenge at Sun City two weeks ago.
Nonetheless, he is aiming to end 2010 in style and is hoping for success in the €1 million event.
“My game is really good at the moment and it would be great to end the year on a high note with victory in our national championship, especially since it’s the 100th and a very special one,” Els said.
“I’ve won four and I have finished in the top three another eight times. It’s a very important tournament for me.”
Goosen, who won the title in 1995 and 2005, said: “There is something indescribable about winning your national Open.
“I was 26 years old when I won my first title and it was one of the proudest moments of my career.”
The two-time US Open champion added: “Winning two SA Open titles rates right up there with winning two majors. I hope I can emulate that success this week.”
Clark, another two-time champion who won the last time the tournament was staged at Durban Country Club, is also determined to enjoy another good showing.
“It’s amazing how comfortable I feel on this course,” Clark said. “I can not have played here for years and when I get out there it all comes back to me.
“There will be pressure on me to win this week because I’ve won the last two played here.
“But winning the Players Championship (on the US Tour in May) has given me a bit more confidence when I get into the situation where a tournament is on the line.
“I’m no longer intimidated by that situation. I also just want to go out there and have fun. That’s the approach I had in 2002 and 2005.”
But Els and Goosen have criticised the state of the course.
“The sad part is that this is our gem of a golf course in South Africa.
“This is our ‘old lady’. This is our St Andrews, and you would like to see the course looking its best,” Els said.
“I think, under the circumstances, they have probably done the best that they could. I heard they only laid the grass after the football World Cup (in July), so that didn’t give them much time,” he added.
Goosen was slightly more forthright. “Unfortunately the course is a disappointment. It is not in the sort of shape we are used to seeing, but it is going to be the same for everybody.
“You are going to have to be on the top of your game from tee to green because the greens are going to be difficult to putt on, so ball-striking is going to be very important.
Only twice since 2000 have non-South Africans won the event, Sweden’s Mathias Gronberg (2000) and defending champion Ramsay, which Els put down to his countrymen’s pride.
“It’s not often that a foreigner wins the South African Open. We are very proud of the tournament. We play it as if it is a major, so you will see the South African guys play very hard this week.
Irish interest is focused on Damien McGrane and Michael Hoey.
THE LOWDOWN:
Course:Durban Country Club.
Length:6,732 yards. Par: 72.
Prizemoney:€1 million (€166,660 for the winner).
Layout:South Africa's premier course, opened in 1922 and staging national Open for 17th time. Noted for undulating fairways, suits the thinking man: Tim Clark has won here twice, his home course.
Field:Standard, but home stars all in action.
Defending champion:Scotland's Richie Ramsay beat Shiv Kapur of India on the first play-off hole.
On TV:Sky Sports 3, 8.30-10.30, 13.30-15.30.
Weather forecast:Rain likely, cool today (230C), hot at weekend (30s0C).
Irish players:Damien McGrane (12.20), Michael Hoey (12.50).
