U.S. Masters
champion Jose Maria Olazabal believes long hours of travel may
take their toll on fellow Spaniard Sergio Garcia in the Million
Dollar Challenge this week.
Garcia flew in from the United States on Tuesday evening for
his debut in the lucrative invitation tournament on Thursday.
"The flight could wear him out physically and catch up with
him later in the week," Olazabal, who lost by one shot to David
Frost in the 1990 edition of the tournament, said.
Olazabal, making his fourth appearance in Sun City, was the
first to arrive on Sunday and sample the Gary Player Country
Club course, infamous for its punishing rough and length.
Zimbabwe's Nick Price chases a record third consecutive
victory in a 12-man line-up which contains seven players from
Europe.
But Olazabal most fancies the chances of local favourite
Ernie Els.
"The more often Ernie plays here the better his chances are.
He is a great player and hits the ball a long way," Olazabal
said.
"Miguel Angel Jiminez also stands a chance. He doesn't hit
that far but hits the ball straight, which is crucial here."
Els has twice narrowly missed the $1million first prize, to
Britain's Colin Montgomerie in 1996 and to Price in 1997.
Montgomerie, winner of a record seventh European Tour Order
of Merit title, returns to lead Europe's challenge.
British Open champion Paul Lawrie will make his debut in the
tournament.
Field: Colin Montgomerie (Scotland), John Huston (U.S.), Jim Furyk (U.S.), Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain), Carlos Franco
(Paraguay), Ernie Els (South Africa), Lee Westwood (England),
Nick Price (Zimbabwe), Paul Lawrie (Scotland), Darren Clarke
(Northern Ireland), Sergio Garcia (Spain), Miguel Angel Jiminez
(Spain).
