Els heads home in effort to end slump

ERNIE ELS hopes a return to his South African homeland can inspire him to play his way out of his recent slump.

Els has slipped to seventh in the world rankings during a relatively barren period for him since he injured his knee in a water sports accident in July last year and underwent surgery.

His only win in that time came at the Dunhill Championship in South Africa — the European Tour title he defends next week — but the Nedbank Golf Challenge in Sun City presents a more relaxed way to ease himself back into action.