Els seeks solace in Delhi

Ernie Els is looking forward to his first professional visit to India this week as the South African seeks an instant response to his Dubai Desert Classic disappointment.

The world number four has now claimed a top-three finish in each of his last three visits to Dubai.

But it could have been an unprecedented fourth victory at the event had the two-time US Open champion not needlessly dumped his second shot into the water at the front of the final green, where he need a birdie to force a play-off with eventual champion Tiger Woods.

But while the top-10 finishers at the Emirates Golf Club apart from Els and Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell head elsewhere, the South African headlines the field at the inaugural US Dollars 2,500,000 Indian Masters, which begins at the Delhi Golf Club tomorrow.

Els told his official website, www.ernieels.com: “It’s the first time the European Tour has ever visited the country. Personally, I’ve been there before and it is definitely one of the game’s big emerging markets.

“So this is an exciting week for golf in the region; it provides the Indian players with a great opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the best players in the world. It’s obviously great for the fans too.

“I’m looking forward to the experience. I have to put behind me what happened last week in Dubai. It’s history...there’s nothing I can do about it now.”

Despite the setback, Els is looking to build on his first appearance in six weeks since tying for 16th at December’s South African Airways Open, the scene of his last strokeplay victory 12 months earlier.

“What I can focus on are the positives; the fact that I was swinging the club well all week in Dubai, hitting my driver great, and that overall I felt comfortable with my game,” Els added.

“In the end, like I said, it just came down to a couple of mistakes. Obviously, I have to eliminate those from my game.

“Other than that, everything is okay.”