THIS TIME ELS IS GOING FOR GOLD

Placing first third in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, and then second last week at his surprise loss in the Dunhill Championship, South African golfing hero Ernie Els is now more determined than ever to take first place at this weekend’s South African Open to be held at the Paarl Valley Golf Estate.

Els has even been heard saying, "Hopefully I can make that little sequence into a three-two-one by winning this week. I do feel I'm up to it."

Being just the sixth event of the 2008 European Tour, the South African Open Golf Tournament starting today, 13 December 2007, will bring to a close the 2007 South African Sunshine Tour.

Along with Ernie Els, three of the other key golfers participating in this tournament, who have all had major wins in their careers, include the likes of Angel Cabrera, Greg Norman, and Retief Goosen.

Also taking part in this 156-man field, one million euro event, are England’s Ross Fischer and John Bickerton, as well as Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke; three of the European Tour’s more prominent golf players.

Being last year’s winner of this same tournament, all South African golfing supporters will all be sitting on the edge of our seats this weekend, holding thumbs for Els, and hoping that, this time, he takes the victory.