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Cut record on the line for Ernie Els

Holder Ernie Els will attempt to equal a European Tour record when he launches his 2006 campaign at this week's Qatar Masters.

The world number five from South Africa will match German Bernhard Langer's mark of 69 consecutive cuts made if he survives the halfway guillotine in Doha.

Langer's streak of survived cuts ran from the 1991 PGA Championship at Wentworth until the same tournament five years later.

Els, who began his own run at the 2000 Johnnie Walker Classic, is returning to a happy hunting ground after winning back-to-back titles in Doha and Dubai last year.

He looks back on his Qatar victory with special pride after retrieving a five-shot deficit to edge out Sweden's Henrik Stenson with a closing seven-under-par 65.

"It was the best comeback of my career," Els told his official website.

"Maybe being in the Middle East will be good for me again. I always enjoy my time here and hopefully I can repeat what I achieved last season."

The 36-year-old Els arrived in Doha on Saturday to make sure he was fully prepared for Thursday's first round.

"All I'm lacking is what you might call 'match practice'," said Els. "I was really starting to get back into the swing of tournament golf with the Sun City Challenge, the Dunhill Championship and the South African Open in December.

"But that was five weeks ago so I need to shake off a bit of winter rust and be sharp when the gun goes."

Els returned after a four-month absence caused by surgery on his left knee to finish ninth in Sun City before lifting the Dunhill trophy and coming second at the South African Open.

The three-times major winner faces strong competition for this week's first prize of 275,000 euros ($336,600).

World number two Vijay Singh warmed up for his first visit to Qatar with a share of eighth place in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

European Ryder Cup trio Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Lee Westwood will also be making their first appearances in a strokeplay event this year.

"Playing against Vijay anywhere in the world is always a great challenge," said Els.

"It makes this year's Qatar Masters all the more difficult to win but there's extra satisfaction if you do, obviously."

Els is still troubled occasionally by his left knee.

"I'm definitely feeling positive about my health right now. My knee does flare up every now and then but my medical team tell me this is okay," he said.

"They say as long as I don't exert too much pressure on it, there's no problem. Obviously if it gets bad I'll stop playing but hopefully that's not going to happen."

January 24, 2006