BEIJING - Ernie Els heads an all-star lineup at the Johnnie Walker Classic golf tournament in Beijing this week, hoping to become the first three-time winner of the $2.3-million US event and recover from a disappointing showing at the U.S. Masters. Three other world top 10 players will also be in the title hunt - Els’ fellow South African Retief Goosen, Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Adam Scott of Australia - as well as Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie, Nick Faldo of England and defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain.
The tournament tees off Thursday and is being held for the first time in mainland China.
“I’ve never been to Beijing and Johnnie Walker events have been good to me,” Els said. “I’ve won this a couple of times and I have also played quite a lot in Asia, so it is interesting for me to have the two combined here this week.”
Els won the event in 1997 and 2003.
More recently the man fans call “the Big Easy” finished a disappointing 47th in the Masters at Augusta National.
“It was a bit unfortunate as I was playing good golf but I got sick with the flu bug before the Masters and it was just bad timing,” he said.
Conditions may be tough for region’s most prestigious golf tournament, with strong winds battering the Chinese capital this past week.
Goosen said he was up for the challenge.
“This cold wind is very difficult. Hopefully tomorrow it’ll be a bit softer, but I enjoy it when there’s challenging conditions,” he said. “The best players will come up the ranks when it’s difficult.”
Among the players representing Asia will be China’s own Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wenchong, South Korea’s Choi Kyung-ju - a two-time winner on the U.S. PGA Tour - Asian Tour No. 1 Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and India’s Jyoti Randhawa.
