Ernie Els heads up a strong home contingent when the 100th edition of the South African Open gets underway in Durban on Thursday.
Watch all four rounds of the South African Open on Sky Sports - live coverage starts on Thursday at 8.30am on Sky Sports 3/HD3
Ernie Els heads up a strong home contingent when the 100th edition of the South African Open gets underway in Durban on Thursday.
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The 41-year-old - who has won the tournament no fewer than four times - will shoulder local hopes along with the likes Retief Goosen, Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, Tim Clark and Charl Schwartzel.
World number 12 Els is the highest ranked player in the field and, despite struggling on his last outing at the Nedbank Challenge, heads into the event with high hopes.
"My game is really good at the moment and it would be great to end the year on a high note with victory in our national championship, especially since it's the 100th and a very special one," he stated.
"I've won four and I have finished in the top three another eight times. It's a very important tournament for me."
Goosen, who won the title in 1995 and 2005, added: "There is something indescribable about winning your national Open.
Proud
"I was 26 years old when I won my first title and it was one of the proudest moments of my career.
"Winning two SA Open titles rates right up there with winning two majors. I hope I can emulate that success this week."
Clark, another two-time champion who won the last time the tournament was staged at Durban Country Club, is also determined to perform well on his home patch.
"It's amazing how comfortable I feel on this course," Clark said. "I can not have played here for years and when I get out there it all comes back to me.
"There will be pressure on me to win this week because I've won the last two played here.
"But winning The Players Championship (on the US Tour in May) has given me a bit more confidence when I get into the situation where a tournament is on the line.
"I'm no longer intimidated by that situation. I also just want to go out there and have fun. That's the approach I had in 2002 and 2005."
