Els the one to beat - again

The European tour continues its sojourn in South Africa, the Stellenbosch Golf Club in Cape Province awaiting an all-star cast for this year's South African Open.

Thirteen Ryder Cup players are due to compete in an event making its third appearance on the European Tour.

One of the oldest events in golf, the tournament dates back to 1893, though Stellenbosch provides a new setting - each of the 17 previous South African Opens played in the Cape Winelands have been played at Mowbray or Royal Cape.

An early big money-earning event and with qualification points at stake in Ryder Cup year, the spotlight is likely to fall on the big guns.

And they don't come much bigger than home player and defending champion Ernie Els, who dominates the betting with nothing bigger on offer than 9-2.

LEADING CONTENDERS

Ernie Els: Married life obviously suits the twice US Open winner, capturing the Alfred Dunhill PGA Championship barely a fortnight after tying the knot with long time fiancee, Liezl Wehmeyer. A congratulatory phone call from President Mandela on the 18th green after securing the first event on this year's Tour shows that Els can also count on friends in high places for support. After that recent four-shot victory in Johannesburg, the tournament's defending champion will not be short of supporters in his home country.

Bernhard Langer: Another of the four major champions on show, after a typically successful 1997 Langer went through last year without a success to his name. Thirty-seven European Tour victories give some idea of the consistency of the 41-year-old German, though doubts over a niggling neck injury may hamper a repeat of last year's fourth-placed finish.

Thomas Bjorn: The 27-year-old Dane has made encouraging progress since entering the Tour scene in 1996, with a string of top five performances in the past couple of seasons topped by wins in last year's Spanish Open and Heineken Classic. A reknowned big-hitter, he should be a major player here.

David Frost: After a poor year in America by his own high standards, 'Frosty' will be eager to improve on a 1998 record which saw just one top 20 finish. He had more success in his homeland, however, finishing second to Els in this tournament 12 months ago and a third-place finish at the recent PGA Championship could be a sign of his intentions on his home turf.

Patrik Sjoland: Another youngster in the "one to watch" category, 1998's rain-reduced Italian Open triumph should provide a base for further successes. Has yet to top the board in a 72-hole event, but a number of impressive performances last year - second in the Volvo PGA and European Masters and third in last year's South African Open - suggests the Swede will be there or thereabouts.

Stephen Leaney: Hit the headlines last year courtesy of two European Tour wins and an eighth place finish in the Volvo Order of Merit. Had two ribs removed in 1993 after a blood clot under his right shoulder was diagnosed. No shortage of heart.

Mark McNulty: Has a good record in the event, following 1997's third place with a seventh twelve months ago, the latter providing his highest finish of last year's Tour. Topped the South African Order of Merit for the seventh time in 1998 and won on this course in the 1990 South African Masters. A fourth in the recent Alfred Dunhill Championship underlines his enduring strength in this country.

BEST OF THE REST

Richard Kaplan was the only player to stay within spitting distance of Els in the PGA and came a commendable ninth here last time round. England's Steven Webster also showed good form in Johannesburg, while Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnam are the remaining major winners in the field with eyes on a return to winning ways.

SUMMARY

After a disappointing 1998, Ernie Els made his intentions for 1999 blindingly obvious in the first event of the year.

It is virtually impossible to make a case against the tall South African winning his second trophy in a row in his homeland.

While there is many a household in which golf and domestic life do not mix, Els' game is likely to benefit from the equlibrium offered by his recent marriage.

An easy-going chap at the worst of times, lapses such as that which had him nearly splitting his caddie in two with a stray club at last year's Irish Open should become ever more rare with the calming influence of 'er indoors...or, rather, 'er behind the ropes.

The record books offer similar cause for optimism to backers of the Springbok.

This is a championship Els has dominated throughout the decade, winner on three occasions since 1992 and runner-up twice.

Add those to his big tournament wins in the Johnnie Walker Classic (1997), Toyota World Matchplay (1994, '95 and '96) and Dubai Desert Classic (1994) - not forgetting his first success in the South African PGA in 1995 - and Els' pedigree cannot be questioned.

And with big Ernie's form similarly beyond reproach the 9-2 offered by Coral and Hills should be received like a pack of blank videos from a distant relative at Christmas - heart-warming it may not be, but accept it graciously as a useful present to have and don't feel obliged to write a thank you letter.

Any fears that a change of scenery for the event means a likely swing in the balance of power should be allayed by the emotional ties linkling Els to the Stellenbosch course.

His wife Liezl is from the town and it was there that Els came close to notching his first ever win as a full-time pro, losing by a single stroke in the 1989 South African Masters in his third tournament.

It hardly seems worth looking elsewhere, but terrible puns aside, should the unthinkable happen Mark McNulty would be the wise first reserve choice at 20-1.

McNulty's track record here can be bettered in the field only by Els and recent history shows that regular South African tour players have a better chance than most in this event.

"Home" contenders have figured highly in the last two years, accounting for five of the top six finishers in 1997 and four of the first half dozen a year later.

There may be some each way value in following Jeev Singh, the young Indian whose performances in his first year on the European Tour were unspectacular but encouraging.

Top 20 showings in last year's Portuguese, English and German Opens hinted at better things to come from the 26-year-old.

And these suspicions were confirmed last week with a sterling show at the PGA , where a seven-shots third would have been even more impressive without an opening round 73 to blot the card.

A good performer in pleasant climates, Stellenbosch should provide a decent opportunity for Singh to prove his worth at 80-1.

At a shorter price, Peter Baker looks well worth an each way look at 40-1 - with Chandler offering a quarter odds on a top five placing - as his form continues its upward spiral.

Accurate as you like to the green, the 1987 rookie of the year suffered something of a slump after taking centre stage in the 1993 Ryder Cup.

Last year produced some of his best golf however, with notable finishes of third in the Heineken Classic and Irish open, fifth in the Italian Open and sixth in the Dutch Open.

And a ninth place finish in Johannesburg suggests that, with confidence high, he could represent good each-way value here.