Golf: Els fancies chances at Muirfield

DUBLIN - Ernie Els, who has been a PGA Tour victory for more than 18 months, hopes to rediscover the winning habit at this week's Memorial golf tournament.

He won the Memorial in 2004 and it is one of his favourite events. The par-72 Muirfield Village Golf Club layout was designed by tournament founder and host Jack Nicklaus.

"I look forward to this one every year and it was great to get that first win in 2004, one of my best performances of that entire season," the popular South African said.

"I feel good every time I come back and I really like my chances here."

The last PGA Tour success for the world No 6 came at the 2004 WGC-American Express Championship in Ireland.

The twice US Open champion, who tied for second at the 2000 Memorial and has produced three other top-10 finishes in 12 starts, is banking on a return to form with his putter.

"I hit a lot of quality golf shots and set up a ton of chances, but I didn't convert the putts," Els said of his tie for 19th at last week's PGA Championship in Wentworth, England.

"I played a lot better there than my finish might suggest, but that's what happens when you struggle on the greens."

Els faces one of the strongest fields of the year at Muirfield Village.

US Masters champion Phil Mickelson is back for the first time since 2002. World No 1 Tiger Woods and eighth-ranked David Toms are the only world top 10 players who will be missing.

American Bart Bryant, who won last year's Memorial by a stroke from Fred Couples, is back to defend and, like Els, has targeted an improvement in his putting.

- REUTERS