DUBLIN, Ohio, May 30 - Without a PGA Tour victory for more than 18
months, Ernie Els hopes to rediscover the winning habit at this week's Memorial
tournament, one of his favourite events.
The popular South African, champion in 2004, likes his chances on the par-72
Muirfield Village Golf Club layout designed by tournament founder and host Jack
Nicklaus.
"I look forward to this one every year and it was great to get that first win
in 2004, one of my best performances of that entire season," Els said on his
official website.
"I feel good every time I come back and I really like my chances here."
"This golf course is just one of those layouts that suits my eye," added the
world number six, whose last PGA Tour success came at the 2004 WGC-American
Express Championship in Ireland.
"There are some golf courses you prefer to others and they're the ones you
tend to play well on. This golf course is like that for me."
The twice U.S. Open champion, who tied for second at the 2000 Memorial and
has produced three other top-10 finishes in 12 starts, is banking on a return to
form with his putter.
QUALITY SHOTS
"I hit a lot of quality golf shots and set up a ton of chances, but I didn't
convert the putts," Els said of his tie for 19th at last week's PGA Championship
in Wentworth, England.
"I played a lot better there than my finish might suggest, but that's what
happens when you struggle on the greens."
Els faces one of the strongest fields of the year at Muirfield Village.
U.S. Masters champion Phil Mickelson is back for the first time since 2002,
and world number one Tiger Woods, whose father Earl died earlier this month, and
eighth-ranked David Toms are the only absentees from the world's top 10.
