Sun City, Nov 27: Ernie Els faces threats from two former champions and big-hitting Vijay Singh of Fiji when he begins his quest Thursday to become the first person to win the Nedbank Challenge golf tournament four times.
Nick Price and Sergio Garcia have each won the tournament and know the tough layout on the 7,769-yard course at the Gary Player Country Club in this South African resort.
Singh already has replaced Els as the world No. 2 behind Tiger Woods and has won as astounding $7.6 million in prize money this year on the PGA Tour. He also demonstrated a sublime touch at last week's Presidents Cup that ended in a tie between the American and international players.
Els, who won seven titles around the world during the year and $5.8 million in prize money, has been dominant over the last five years at this tournament.
``I have no sense of that dominance myself,'' he said, ``but since I broke through a couple of years ago, I have felt I know how to play the course.''



But, while he showed flashes of brilliance during the Presidents Cup, he endured a 4-and-3 hammering in the singles at the hands of Woods on the final day. By way of redemption, he played with extraordinary steel in a thrilling playoff that was ended by darkness, resulting in the tie.



``In the end, you don't play against the other guys,'' said Els. ``You play against the course and against yourself, and if you get that right, then things go OK.''


Bureau Report