World number three and defending Nedbank Golf Challenge champion Ernie Els said on Wednesday that he is rested and raring to go at the 23rd staging of the event, which starts on Thursday.
The South African has just completed a draining play-off against world number one Tiger Woods at the Presidents Cup at The Links at Fancour. The play-off was called off after bad light stopped play and the Cup was shared.
The par-72 Gary Player Country Club presents different challenges, including high temperatures, but Els said that he had two days off and is up to the challenge of trying to become the first man to win the title for a fourth time.
”I feel refreshed because I took Monday and Tuesday off,” Els said. ”A play-off like that takes a lot out of you but you have been through those kinds of things in your career before.
”You take a day or two off and then you want to come back for more. That is what we play the game for.
”I had a good round in the pro-am today [he shot 65] and I’m feeling really good.”
The field has been increased to accommodate 18 players — the most in the tournament’s history — and Els expects the challenge to be that much tougher because of the larger field.
”The players, the more competition there is,” Els said. ”We have a very good field here this week and most of them have had very good years.
”I think most of them have won tournaments, but you have to play against the golf course as well. But if you do what you should do you’ll be okay.”
South Africa’s Tim Clark, who is a late replacement for the injured David Toms, won the pro-am on Wednesday after shooting 69.
”Someone is going to have to play really well to shoot the kind of scores Ernie has been shooting in the past,” Clark said.
”I think if you can comfortably shoot three under a day out here, which is a 12-under total, that would be pretty good. I would be happy with that.”
The American pair of Charles Howell III and Jerry Kelly, who are both due to make their debuts on Thursday, pulled out of the pro-am because of a stomach virus.
They are expected to be fit and able to take their place on the first tee when the tournament starts. — Sapa