South Africans take a shine to Juliet

VIJAY isn’t here, Tiger is struggling with injury and the Europeans are hungover from Ryder Cup heroics.

Accordingly, there could hardly be a better time for the South Africans, and especially Ernie and Retief, for glory and honour at Mount Juliet.

Or at least, so goes the perceived wisdom here in Kilkenny, as 44 of the top 50 golfers on the planet battle it out for the €5.7 million American Express World Championship, which tees off at 11.30am.

There is little doubt Singh’s absence, due to problems at his Florida home, and Woods’s loss of form make it that little bit easier for the others - although Els laughed heartily at that.

“In actual fact, I’d prefer if Vijay was here because then you can really see where you are with your game,” he said.

“He’s the number one player now and he has definitely proved that over the last four or five weeks. It’s a pity he’s not here but he has to look after personal matters.”

Either way, Goosen and Els dismiss a repeat of anything close to the remarkable scoring of two years ago when Tiger shot 25 under.

Amazingly Woods still had only one stroke to spare over the fast finishing Goosen, who shot 62 on the last day to equal the mark set earlier in the championship by Sergio Garcia.

“We’re not going to have the same weather as two years ago,” said Goosen, who also went against the general line of thinking when commenting that: “the fairways aren’t quite as good as they can be.”

Els praised the condition of the course, sand said: “the greens are great again, almost as good as in 2002.” They’ve obviously had more rain this time around but we can’t complain, if you strike well, you should score well.

“It’s right there in front of you.”

In spite of his reservations about the fairways, Goosen insisted he was a fan of the Mount Juliet layout.

“I like the way it sets up for my game. It will suit the long hitters this week. You’ve got to hit it a long way through the air because the fairways are so sandy and there’s no run. The greens are soft but they’re not really sloppy so the balls are releasing a little bit.”

Els said he was a little rusty after a two week break, but accepted he needed the rest. Uncharacteristically, he was somewhat down in himself earlier this month, but said he was now “in a different mindset.”

“Whatever I’ve been saying a few weeks back is all done and dusted. I’m ready to play golf again. I haven’t won a tournament since May so I’m really looking forward to getting back into it. It’ll be great. I’ve never won a tournament in Ireland.

“I used to play the Irish Open quite a lot and never really threatened. I think I enjoyed myself too much. Or maybe I overdid the Guinness and the Murphys!”

Goosen, by comparison, has invariably prospered in this country, most recently when capturing the Smurfit European Open at The K-Club on his first outing after his victory in the US Open at Shinnecock Hills.

A jet ski accident in Barbados subsequently ruled him out for five weeks causing him to miss the Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Ironically he denied he missed the game during that enforced lay off.

“I was quite happy sitting on a couch and playing with my son Leo and watching TV and just relaxing,” he said.

“It wasn’t that I was too keen on getting back on the golf course. It was nice doing something other than playing golf. But I’m back now in a run of six tournaments in seven weeks and getting back into the swing of things before the end of the year.”

The wise money, then, should be on the South African duo although it is dangerous to rule out Woods, injured or not, in a championship of this importance.

The trouble for Woods is a nagging back injury threatens to compound the many problems he is experiencing with his golf game.

He said last night: “If I’m able to go, I’ll go. If I can’t, I won’t. I’ve never been one to pull out of tournaments and quit because I’m physically sore.

“I played through my knee pain for a considerable time. I can handle the pain. Whether I’m able to swing a golf club is a different story.”

If Woods fails to win his fourth Amex title this week, there are plenty of Americans ready to fill the void.

As for the Europeans, Sergio Garcia was the top dog at Oakland Hills and believes he can carry that form through to the Amex: “I feel comfortable. It’s a new week and I’ve got to realise that. The Ryder Cup is over, even if it will be interesting to come back here to Ireland and defend the cup but now we’ve got to concentrate on this week.”

Nobody should rule out a serious Irish challenge this week. Not alone do Pádraig Harrington, Darren Clarke, Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell represent an impressive four pronged challenge but the climatic conditions should also be distinctly in their favour.