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Ernie Els aiming for winning return in Colorado

Ernie Els, hungry for his first victory of the year, has given himself extra time to prepare for this week's International at Castle Pines Golf Club.

The 2000 champion and world number seven, who has not played competitive golf since finishing third at last month's British Open, arrived at the picturesque Colorado layout over the weekend.

"I desperately want to win a tournament this year, so that I can get to the Mercedes Championship in Hawaii at the start of next season," South African Els said on his official website, referring to the winners-only PGA Tour event.

"That's my big goal right now, so I'm focused on that and working hard towards it.

"It's one of the reasons I flew to Denver a couple of days earlier than usual, so I could spend two days solid on the practice ground and really get into the swing of things."

Els has not hit top form this season after being sidelined for four months at the end of last year following knee surgery.

He twisted his left knee on a family sailing holiday a week after the 2005 British Open and has visited the winner's circle only once since then, at the European Tour's Dunhill Championship in December.

Putting has been his main problem on the 2006 PGA Tour but Els said it was "good to start feeling the vibes again" in the British Open at Hoylake three weeks ago when he returned scores of 68, 65, 71 and 71.

"I haven't had a great time on the golf course the last year or so and to play some decent golf, especially in majors, is really a thrill," he added. "I've done a lot of work and I'm happy about Hoylake."

A further boost for the three-times major winner is returning this week to a par-72 layout where he has always done well.

"I won it in 2000, equalling the record points total, and since 1997 I've finished outside the top seven only twice," the 36-year-old said.

"It's a golf course that definitely seems to suit my eye and I love everything about this tournament, including the point-scoring format."

Under a modified stableford scoring format, two points are awarded for a birdie, five for an eagle and eight for an albatross (double-eagle). A bogey earns a one-point deduction while three points are subtracted for a double-bogey or worse.

"Basically, it rewards aggressive golf, because you gain more points for a birdie than you lose for a bogey," added Els, who equalled Phil Mickelson's tournament record with a 48-point aggregate six years ago.

The popular South African faces a strong field at Castle Pines with many of the game's leading players preparing for next week's PGA Championship at Medinah, the final major of the year.

World number two Mickelson is back, along with fifth-ranked Retief Goosen, Spanish number nine Sergio Garcia and Britain's David Howell, the world number 10.  

South African Goosen defends the title he won last year by a point over American Brandt Jobe.

August 10, 2006