Els Favourite for the NGC
30 November, 2006
SOUTH African Ernie Els will start equal $5 favourite on IASbet when he makes his record 15th appearance in the 2006 Nedbank Golf Challenge (NGC) starting at Sun City on Thursday.
Els shares IASbet favoritism with last year’s winner, American Jim Furyk.
The much-heralded local will be joined by three other fellow countrymen in the 26th edition of the NGC, Retief Goosen ($5.50) and NGC debutants Trevor Immelman and Charl Schwartzel.
Goosen will be seeking to avenge last year when he was part of a thrilling record four-man playoff that went the way of Furyk after a dramatic chip-in at the 18th.
The other two men in that playoff, Adam Scott and Darren Clarke, aren’t playing this year.
Immelman earned his place in the NGC with a maiden victory on the US PGA Tour in the Western Open on his way to a world ranking of 15.
The Western Open triumph was against a field that included a charging Tiger Woods, with the youngster $10 on IASbet and $2.80 each-way.
Schwartzel topped the Sunshine Tour’s order of merit to snare his invitation and is the longest priced player at IASbet on $41.
Among the big names returning to Sun City are 2003 winner, Spaniard Sergio Garcia, 1996 champion Scot Colin Montgomerie, and Irishman Padraig Harrington, who in 2001 carved up the Gary Player CC course with a record 61 in the third round, which still stands today.
Others in the field are Ryder Cup players, Englishman David Howell and Swede Henrik Stenson, consistent American Chris DiMarco and Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal.
For the latest odds on the 2006 Nedbank Golf Challenge, check out IASbet .
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