Eleven of the world's top 20 golfers will be playing at the Nedbank Challenge this week, including defending champion Jim Furyk and three-time winner Ernie Els.
And the course at the Gary Player Country Club looks ready to yield some low scores _ at least as far as Furyk is concerned.
``The course is in great shape, with the greens not as firm as they sometimes are, and the roll on the fairways not as long either,'' Furyk said Wednesday. ``All of that should help with scoring.''
Furyk, who shot a 4-under 68 in the pro-am event ahead of Thursday's opening round, is hoping to finish off what he called ``one of my best years ever.''
The American won the Canadian Open and the Wachovia Championship, and was runner-up three times on the PGA Tour, finishing tied for second at the U.S. Open and fourth at the British Open. He won the U.S. Open in 2003.
Els is coming off a quiet year on his return from knee surgery. The South African, who has won three majors, last won at the Dunhill Championship in December 2005.
Retief Goosen, Sergio Garcia and Colin Montgomerie are also in the field.
Goosen has had putting problems all year, and he missed the cut at the Hong Kong Open last month in his previous outing.
Montgomerie has had a solid year, finishing second at the U.S. Open alongside Furyk and Phil Mickleson, and the course is suited to the straight and long game he plays.
© The Canadian Press, 2007
