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Ernie Els looking for a home victory

The locals are desperate to avoid a foreign winner of this week’s South African Open, according to world number nine Ernie Els.

“This is our national tournament and we’re really, really proud of it,” Els told a news conference at Pearl Valley Golf Estates on Wednesday. “We South African golfers just love our sport.

“The international players put a great edge on it but we don’t want any foreigner coming over here and taking our national title, to put it bluntly.

“I think the local guys will really pick up their game this week, seeing the world-class line-up.”

Els was pleased a strong international lineup had been assembled including world number eight Henrik Stenson, British quartet Lee Westwood, Justin Rose, Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy and American Len Mattiace.

South African hopes will be pinned on Els, U.S. Masters champion Trevor Immelman, double U.S. Open winner Retief Goosen, holder James Kingston, Rory Sabbatini, and Tim Clark and Richard Sterne, who won last week’s Australian Open and Dunhill Championship respectively.

“The international players bring a lot of depth to the field,” said four-times winner Els. “It’s also great to see players like Rory Sabbatini and Tim Clark coming back.

“This is a world-class facility that compares to the very best.”

Aside from a social round in Florida, Els took to the course for the first time in three weeks when he played nine holes on the Western Cape on Tuesday.

After 18 holes in the pro-am on Wednesday, he said he had a much better mindset coming into this year’s tournament.

“I was not in a good mental place last year after I lost the Dunhill (with a triple bogey at the final hole),” he said. “I was pretty miserable and I should have skipped the tournament.

“But I just can’t miss the SA Open. It really all goes back to 1992 for me,” Els said of the first of his four victories at Houghton in Johannesburg.

“It really launched my career, opened doors for me around the world.”

Stenson, who triumphed at the Sun City Challenge two weeks ago, praised the par-72 Jack Nicklaus-designed layuout.

“It’s a very good course but it’s going to be a tough week,” said the Swede. “There are lots of options off the tees and a lot of wind.

“It will be tough if it keeps blowing like this but I’m looking forward to the final four rounds of the year.”

December 18, 2008