Ernie Els and Adam Scott do battle in Asia again this week with the prospect of more fireworks from two of the world’s top golfers at the lucrative Johnnie Walker Classic.
The last time Els and Scott met in the region they went head-to-head at the Singapore Open in September, with the Australian world number four digging deep to beat the big South African in a three-hole play-off.
Since then Els, the world number five, has finally regained full fitness following the knee ligament damage he incurred in a jet-ski accident 18 months ago, and another pulsating contest is in store.
After Singapore and a winless streak spanning 29 tournaments, Els lifted his game to win the South African Open and has started 2007 in spectacular form.
He finished third at the Qatar Masters, second at the Dubai Desert Classic and third at the Nissan Open before a first round exit at the Accenture Match Play Championship last week brought him back to earth.
”Golf-wise, I’m not reading much into last week’s first round loss in Tucson. To be honest with you, that was just one of those days,” said Els, one of golf’s most prolific travellers, who thrives in the tropical heat.
”I genuinely felt pretty good about my game going into the WGC Accenture Matchplay.
”Looking on the bright side, at least I got that long journey out of the way earlier than if I’d had a good run in the Accenture, which means I’m nice and fresh and mentally prepared for the start of the Johnnie Walker.”
Scott had a good start to the year, finishing second at the Mercedes-Benz Championship in January before missing the cut at the Nissan Open and is looking to the Johnnie Walker to get his season going again.
”I’ve got a pretty good record in tournament golf in Asia — I think it’s three wins from four starts — so this may well be the week that kicks off my 2007 season,” he said.
”Having said that, there is a good field in the event and it will take some good golf to win, not to mention coping with the [hot and humid] weather.”
Standing in their way are a host of top-ranked players, including South African world number six Retief Goosen, who curled in a spectacular eagle on the last hole to win the Qatar Masters last month.
In-form Englishman Paul Casey, the 2006 golfer of the year, who won last month’s Abu Dhabi Golf Championships, European Ryder Cup talisman Colin Montgomerie and 2003 Masters winner Mike Weir are also in the field.
A who’s who of Asia’s top talent, led by India’s Jeev Milkha Singh and Japan’s Shingo Katayama, will be knocking on the door for the $2,44-million in prizemoney.
”It’s hot but I love the golf course here. I’ve always played well out here but there are a lot of good players in the field,” said Singh, Asia’s number one. ”I’ll just go out there, play my game and see what comes my way.”
Other luminaries such as reigning Ryder Cup captain Ian Woosnam and Chinese veteran Zhang Lang-wei will play.
Set against the scenic landscape of the Phang Nga Mountains and Andaman Sea, the Blue Canyon course is considered of Asia’s finest.
Els has won the tournament — tri-sanctioned by the European, Asian and Australasian Tours — twice before, in 1997 and 2003, while Scott triumphed in 2005. Goosen won it in 2002.
The Blue Canyon previously hosted the tournament in 1994, when Greg Norman lifted the trophy, and in 1998, when world number one Tiger Woods beat Els in a play-off. – Sapa-AFP