Monday 14 July 2014 22:55, UK
Ernie Els is hoping he has rediscovered some form as he prepares for the 143rd Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
The 44-year-old South African will be bidding for a third Open success following his wins in 2002 and 2012 but he has not had the best of seasons.
He finished fourth in the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February, but has not recorded a single top-10 finish in a stroke play event.
However, Els finished third – five shots behind Tiger Woods - at Hoylake in 2006 and he is hoping for another good performance on the Merseyside course after a confidence-boosting 66 in the final round of the Scottish Open on Sunday.
"I needed something like that," Els said. "My year has been up and down and a bit of a mess. It's nice to get something going.
"I'm striking the ball nicely now and putting better so I'm looking forward to a return.
"In 2006 it was brown and dusty and hot with no wind until the last day. It will be a different challenge this year. If the wind blows then the prevailing wind is sideways and that makes it very difficult.
"You have to control your ball and because the course is built on a dune near the ocean there's a lot of run off points on each hole. It's also unbelievably well bunkered.
"In 2006 I was 11 under after two rounds but then Saturday and Sunday slowed up. I was playing with Tiger (Woods) in the third round and we both shot 71.
"I made late birdies on the Sunday, but it was too late and Tiger was already gone. But it was nice to be in the mix."
