Els seeks half-century

Ernie Els goes looking for the 50th individual victory of his professional career in Bangkok this week.

But despite the obvious evidence that he reached top form too quickly last season the world number three says he will be only too happy to reach the landmark with a successful defence of the Johnnie Walker Classic at the Alpine Golf and Sports Club.

Els won four of his first five events a year ago, then disappointed in the Masters and in the three other major championships that followed.

The 34-year-old said: “I peaked a bit too soon and I’ve got to keep myself fresh this time.

“Last year I got quite tired and it showed in my performance. I don’t want that to happen again.”

There appears the same danger of burn-out when first looking at his schedule. Els has already played two tournaments in Hawaii, winning the second of them, and next week moves on to Melbourne for his defence of the Heineken Classic.

But the difference this time is that he is determined to rest when he feels the need and he is not yet committing himself to flying to California for the Accenture world match play championship at the end of February.

“If I’m not ready then I’m not going to play,” added Els. “I’ll see how I feel. I had a great run before the Masters last year, but it kind of took its toll a little bit.

“I hope to take it a bit easier this year.

“I want to win more major championships – that’s my goal every year.”

Els won the European Order of Merit playing 16 events last season. This time it is likely to be down to 12 or 13, but he is not ruling out the possibility of defending that crown as well.

“I’ve got to play really well and win big ones.” By that he means majors or the three world championships, each with seven-figure first prizes.

In this event last year Els set a European tour record of 29 under par. That, though, was at Lake Karrinyup in Perth.

Els spent last week with his family on the holiday island of Phuket, but he and caddie Ricci Roberts went down with stomach trouble and on arrival in the Thai capital were visited by a doctor.

“It seems like we’re back on track this morning,” he commented. “It could have been the water, it could have been anything.

“I’m still around – definitely it wasn’t the (bird) flu. I ate everything, but I think I’ll be eating a lot of burgers this week.”

Els’ second successive victory in the Sony Open nine days ago was somewhat overshadowed by 14-year-old Michelle Wie almost making the halfway cut, but he is the centre of attention this week with Tiger Woods deciding not to return to the course on which he won two years ago.

Open champion Ben Curtis, now a member of the European circuit as well as the US Tour, and PGA champion Shaun Micheel join a field which also includes Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo, Ian Woosnam, Thomas Bjorn, Justin Rose and Ian Poulter.

Trevor Immelman and Marcel Siem, the first two winners on the European tour this season, have also travelled on seeking more success.