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Ernie Els ready to start 2006 season

After his 2005 campaign was blighted by knee surgery, world number four Ernie Els says he cannot wait to get going this year.

"I am looking forward to this new season maybe more than any other since I turned pro," the South African was quoted as saying on his official website on Monday.

"That layoff through injury meant I could get some things straight in my head and evaluate some of my goals. Mentally and physically I feel good.

"Having recovered from such a bad injury, it almost seems that 2006 is going to be the start of the second half of my professional career. I'm ready."

Els, 36, twisted his left knee during a family sailing holiday in the Mediterranean and spent four months on the sidelines.

He returned in December and immediately found his groove, finishing ninth at the Sun City Challenge before winning the Dunhill Championship and coming second to fellow countryman Retief Goosen at the South African Open.

The player known as the 'Big Easy' will begin his 2006 campaign by defending his Qatar Masters title next week.

Els, though, is gearing his season around the four majors, so much so that it is likely to mean he spends less time with his family at their home in Wentworth, Surrey.

"There are going to be times when I miss the family a bit more than in the previous four or five seasons, which is obviously tough. But I wanted things more geared towards being ready for the majors," said Els.

"Leading up to the U.S. Masters, I think I've got my schedule just right. I play in Qatar and Dubai at the end of January, beginning of February. Then it's a week off, followed by a two-week stretch in California at the Nissan and the Accenture Matchplay.

"Then it's a three-week stretch in Florida, at Doral, Bay Hill and the Players Championship, with a week off in between.

"I think this build-up is good; these are tournaments that I want to play in and it's also organised in a way that's going to get me in the best shape possible for a shot at the U.S. Masters (in April)."

Els has won two U.S. Opens and one British Open but struggled in last year's majors.

He tied for 47th at the U.S. Masters, his worst finish in 12 starts at Augusta, finished equal 15th at the U.S. Open, 34th at the British Open and missed the U.S. PGA Championship due to his knee injury.