Volvo Golf Champions - Open champion Ernie Els overjoyed to have Claret Jug again
Wednesday 9 January 2013 17:49, UK
Image:Ernie Els: Loving life as Open champion again
Ernie Els has been taking the famous Claret Jug with him everywhere, and it is by his side in Durban as he starts his 2013 season at the Volvo Golf Champions.
"We'll see. A lot of guys thought it was a magic wand, but it's not - you have to put work into it. I was fortunate to win the Open Championship, making those putts on the final nine.
"There are people that want to look after the game and the future of the game and if they so feel that they need to ban it I'll go with it, but I'm definitely not for that.
"I've given my views, so they know where I'm coming from. When I make these comments it's no shock to anybody. I'm against it, but I want to honour the game, wherever it takes us."
Els partners Belgian Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts - proud possessor of his first Masters invite - in the opening round at Durban Country Club, while Scots Paul Lawrie and Colin Montgomerie are paired.
The tournament is restricted to last year's European Tour winners, past champions of the event and those with 10 or more career victories on the circuit.
Paul Casey qualifies on the last two counts. He won it Bahrain in 2011, but was unable to defend 12 months ago after breaking his collarbone snowboarding.
