General / Editor / 22 June 2007 /

Ernie Els believes Carnoustie, the venue for this year's Open Championship, is the toughest course on the major circuit and expects a tough test next month.

There have been several players claiming that last week's US Open at Oakmont was the most punishing major in living memory.

Els though remembers the challenge that was set at Carnoustie back in 1999, when Paul Lawrie won the event following a play off having finished the 72 holes on +6.

The South African "I think I finished in the mid-20s (24th to be exact) there and I just hope it's not like that again next month.
"That's probably the toughest major I've ever played and that includes Bethpage, Winged Foot and Oakmont."

The 2002 Open champion will fly home to South Africa following this week's BMW International and have a two-week break before heading to the UK for the Scottish Open - which takes place a week before the Open.

The world number five is the third favourite at 20 to land the year's third major, which starts on July 19, with only Tiger Woods (3.95) and Phil Mickelson (17.5) ahead of him in Betfair's outright winner market.

Els, who has finished runner-up on three occasions at the Open, can be backed at 5.1 to finish in the top five at Carnoustie.

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