Refreshed Els raring to go

GOLF: Fresh from a fortnight's break, Ernie Els is in confident mood as he prepares for this week's Scottish Open and the defence of his British Open title at Royal St George's next week.

The world number two, who has not played tournament golf since tying for 11th at last month's Buick Classic, has always enjoyed the picturesque Loch Lomond layout, where he won in 2000.

"It's absolutely beautiful, even more so if the weather turns out to be good," Els said.

The twice US Open champion heads a high-quality field for the Scottish Open, which starts tomorrow and offers €3.2 million in prize money. However, he will not have fond memories of last year's rain-sodden event, when he carded 68, 74, 69 and 72 on his way to a share of 50th place.

"Last year, unfortunately, I played quite poorly here . . . despite opening with a 68," said the 33-year-old."Twelve months on, my game is in a lot better shape . . . I'm feeling fresh and raring to go."

Els is one of six former major winners in this week's field. The others are Retief Goosen, Sandy Lyle, Jose Maria Olazabal, Tom Lehman and John Daly.

But another major winner, Fred Couples, will be a noted absentee. The 43-year-old American, who won the US Masters in 1992, has pulled out with a back injury but is still hopeful of recovering in time for the British Open, in which he was third in 1991.

Organisers of the HSBC World Match Play Championship at Wentworth in October are insisting Tiger Woods has still to decide whether he takes part.

"We're still in discussions with Tiger and his team," said a spokesman, who admitted his surprise at a "Tiger snub hits World Match Play" headline yesterday morning. "Nothing is finalised - he has not made a decision," added the spokesman from International Management Group, which not only runs the event but also manages Woods.

Andrew Hempel, also of IMG, had said: "Tiger has no tournament that week, but has a commercial commitment that he is trying to move.

"He promised that if he doesn't come this year he will next year."