Els looking for lift

While Luke Donald ponders whether the Scottish Open is the right way for him to prepare for the British Open Championship, Ernie Els has no doubts.

“This is probably my favourite fortnight on the Tour schedule,” says the South African on his website.

“Some say that playing at Loch Lomond is not the best preparation for the (British) Open. Their theory is that it couldn’t be further removed from links golf.

“Well, that’s true. It’s nothing like links golf. But that’s not an issue for me. I love Loch Lomond and I've played enough links golf over the years to know what it takes to do well in the British (Open).”

That will be welcome news to all concerned at Loch Lomond after Donald’s comments.

Donald has finished fifth and second in the last two Scottish Opens, but says that he could decide to bypass the tournament in future.

What matters most to Britain’s top-ranked player is success in the majors and he said: “If I don’t have a good Open Championship next week I might have to consider something different.”

World number nine Donald has played in the British Open seven times and has yet to post a top-30 finish.

He missed the halfway cut in the first five of them, was 52nd at St Andrews two years ago and then 35th at Hoylake last summer.

What Donald would like is for Loch Lomond to be a week earlier in the schedule so that he could then play seaside golf in preparation for the British Open, but a new six-year deal was signed with sponsors Barclays in February for the event to remain in its present slot.

The reasons why are obvious. Whereas the European Open last week had a mere four of last year's Ryder Cup team and US Open champion Angel Cabrera on show, this week’s event boasts seven of the world’s top 20.

Els is a double winner at Loch Lomond, in 2000 and 2003, and in the British Opens those years he was joint runner-up and 18th.

When he won at Muirfield in 2002 he went into the event low on confidence after a 50th place at Loch Lomond.

The world number five has yet to win this year and has had only one top-10 finish in his last six starts – seventh at the BMW International Open in Munich three weeks ago.

Fellow South African Denis Hutchinson, winner of the French Open in 1966 and now a television commentator, gave him a practice putting drill using a piece of wood that week.

Els said: “It seems to be doing the trick. I obviously just need to carry over what I’m doing in practice into my tournament play. The signs are encouraging.

“The secret to contending and winning is playing consistent golf over four days. What I need to do here at Loch Lomond is stay patient – you know, not try and push things the moment I stand on the first tee.

“Obviously, I don’t need to remind anyone that I’ve had a pretty tough time of it this year, but as a sportsman you know you’re going to have these dry spells.

“The important thing is I play four good, solid rounds of golf this week. If it turns out to be enough to win, that’ll be fantastic. If not, so be it. It will at least give me some confidence going into Carnoustie.”