By John Tully-Jackson
If there’s a course where Ernie Els is ideally placed to recapture some of his former glory, Emirates Golf Club is it.

The South African legend’s game has gone off the boil since his last win at the 2013 BMW International but he’s a three-time winner of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic and holds the Majlis course record, an 11-under 61.

“It’s my favourite one,” the 48-year-old said of the Majlis course on which he’ll tee it up Thursday alongside Ryder Cup captains past and present, Colin Montgomerie and Thomas Bjørn, at 7.40am from the 10th.

“All the other ones are good, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, but yeah, finding success earlier on here, was wonderful, and you know, just great memories. I won here in 1994, a memorable day, Greg Norman was world No.1.”

Els shot said course record in the first round in 1994 en-route to a wire-to-wire victory for the first of his three Dallah trophies.

“I was really young back then trying to prove myself and lucky enough to win. And ever since then, you know, I just always enjoyed playing here. I won a couple more times, so for a while there, I really had some good years here. I finished a lot of top fives and a couple of wins, so it’s one of my favourite places.”

The four-time major champion in fact finished no worse than 11th in his first 11 appearances in Dubai and added wins in 2002 and 2005. He’s had his difficulties of late, most notably with his putter, but starts the season fresh. So what’s your mind-set at the start of every year now as you get a little bit older?

“Yeah, yeah, I mean, touch wood, I feel a bit more healthy than I did this time last year. I had quite a few little niggles in the body, and you know, we all have niggles, but getting to your late 40s, it’s tough to swing the club the way you did, especially when you have a niggle.”

“I feel better. I’ve lost a little bit of weight, so hopefully that helps, and you know, I’m looking forward to a full schedule. We’ll take stock after this year and see what we’re going to do. If I have a good year, I might keep going with a full schedule next year until I’m 50 and then obviously then maybe see where we go. But for now, still nice to compete against the young guys and come to places that I really enjoy like Dubai.”

Would there be sadness if one of those young guns were to equal your course record or your record three wins? Are you surprised the course record still stands?

“Well, it is 61 [laughter], that’s quite low. There’s been 62s and 63s, but on that particular day, everything went in. You know, today’s day and age with technology, the par 5s are all very, very reachable for these young guys. Somebody might shoot 59 this week, who knows.

“We don’t really look at it that way as players. It’s nice to be recognised as the guy who has won the most, but it’s not going to stand forever. I think that’s just sentimental stuff to be honest.

“I’ve had great times here and fortunate enough to win three times. I mean, especially the last one I won against Miguel Ángel [Jimenez], when I hit the shot out of the desert and made the putt for eagle, that doesn’t really happen. So I’ve had my great breaks around here and it’s time for somebody else to take over the mantle.”