Els draws upon a record round to guide him in Asian Open
World number five Ernie Els rolled into Shanghai for the BMW Asian Open yesterday with happy memories of his record-breaking triumph two years ago.
The South African headlines an elite field for the US$2.3 million event, which tees off today, and, while he may be jetlagged, Els knows his form is good enough to claim a first title of the year after finishing second in the Verizon Heritage on the US Tour, a tournament that finished only on Monday.
It was Els' third top-three finish of 2007, but it is a 59th international victory that the 'Big Easy' will be chasing at the Tomson Shanghai Pudong Golf Club, site of his 13-shot victory in the 2005 Asian Open.
'I had a good time. I played well that week and made a lot of putts. I couldn't make it last year so I'm glad to be back,' Els said.
With a Monday finish in America, Els could only arrive in Shanghai yesterday afternoon after dropping his family off in London before taking another long haul to the Far East. He wasn't perturbed by the fact he would not have a chance to play a practice round, especially when he accumulated a 26-under-par 262 winning total two years ago, including a second-round 62.
Joining Els in this week's event, which is jointly sanctioned by the Asian and European Tours, are compatriots Retief Goosen (world number eight) and Anton Haig, who leads the Asian Tour's UBS Order of Merit; American 'Grip it and Rip it' star John Daly; and European Ryder Cup heroes Paul Casey and Colin Montgomerie.
Thai stars Thongchai Jaidee and Chapchai Nirat, China's Liang Wen-chong and India's Shiv Kapur are among the region's stalwarts hoping to end its title drought in the Asian Open since the event was inaugurated in 2001.
Whatever the outcome, Els' visit to Shanghai will leave a lasting imprint at Tomson as he signed an agreement with the club to design its second golf course, his second in China and 18th around the world. Els said the new course would project a stadium atmosphere, with residential property around the course.
Daly, a two-time major champion, will be making only his second appearance in China and said he was feeling 100 per cent after suffering a rib and shoulder injury two months ago. 'I played in Houston before the Masters and it was hurting a bit. The shoulder had to be popped in three times! Last week was the first week that I could have a go at everything. I feel strong,' he said.
Goosen, who led the Masters going into the final round only to finish joint runner-up, said: 'It was a positive thing. I played well at the weekend and got my game going, which gives me a boost for this week.'
