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.

A star-studded 12-man field begin their bid today for the £600,000 first prize, but Els, who will also play in the South African Airways Open next month, is more concerned with the long-term picture.

“I have set myself a goal: to get myself back to where I was in world golf and hopefully beyond that,” said the three-time major winner, who had a nine-week spell as world number one and has spent recent seasons encamped in the top five.