Els fancies chances at Hilton Head

US Tour news: Ernie Els will look to put a disappointing Masters behind him by getting straight back into action at the Verizon Heritage tournament starting at Hilton Head Island in South Carolina today.

The South African was the lowest placed of the so-called 'Big Five' at Augusta, finishing tied for 27th after a final-round 76 dropped him well out of contention and 11 shots behind winner Phil Mickelson.

Els, ranked fifth in the world, last won in December at the Dunhill Championship in his homeland but has had four other top-10 finishes on both the European and PGA Tours - most notably losing a play-off to Tiger Woods at the Dubai Desert Classic in February.

He feels confident in the progress he has made in his game, having spent the latter part of last year recuperating after a knee injury curtailed his season, and believes he can end a 22-month streak without a win in the US.

Els' last two appearances at Hilton Head Island have resulted in top-10 finishes and with the course having a reputation for benefiting shot-makers he is optimistic about his chances.

"This is my final tournament before I have some time off at Wentworth so it would be great if I could make something special happen and get back into my winning ways," said Els.

"I don't feel like I'm far away now. I just need to play solid golf and put myself in position to have a shot at winning come Sunday afternoon.

"The Harbour Town Golf Links is one of the players' favourites out here on the PGA Tour and it's a golf course where I've played pretty well over the years, too.

"I wasn't here last year but on the two previous occasions I shot eight under par in 2004 and 10 under par in 2003 to finish tied third and 10th.

"When I look back over my record I've hardly ever been outside the top 10. Maybe that first win is overdue."

Els added "There's no reason why I can't make this a good week.

"If I can keep doing the things that have been good in my game this past few weeks, and at the same time eliminate some of the mistakes that have been costing me, I've got a great chance."

Darren Clarke is one of three Irish players in the field, where he will be joined by Paul McGinley and Graeme McDowell. Clarke is another looking to improve on his Masters performance - and erase the memory of the final day at Hilton Head last year.

Having led by six shots at the halfway stage, he and Peter Lonard both walked to their balls on the 72nd fairway tied at seven under.

Lonard hit the green but Clarke pulled his ball into a beach area next to the green and made a double bogey to lose by two strokes, eventually finishing tied for second with Billy Andrade.

And despite carding seven bogeys in a final-round 77 at Augusta, the Ulsterman remains upbeat about his chances this week. "I've a feeling I might get lucky after coming so close last year," he said.

The strong Heritage field also includes six of the world's top 15. Apart from Els, eighth-ranked Jim Furyk is competing, along with Chris DiMarco (11), Jose Maria Olazabal (12), Chad Campbell (14) and Tim Clark (15).

Spaniard Olazabal will be in upbeat mood at Hilton Head after vaulting into a tie for third at the Masters with a best-of-the-week 66.

South African Clark will also be oozing confidence after securing his highest major finish on Sunday.

He spectacularly holed out for a birdie-three from a greenside bunker at the last for a 69, securing outright second place two shots behind winner Phil Mickelson. "Hopefully my game gets to the level where I'll look back and don't want to remember the second places either," Clark told reporters at Augusta. "I want to think about winning."

Victory this week would be a welcome bonus for the diminutive South African, a three-times European Tour winner who is yet to triumph on the PGA Tour where he plays most of his golf.