Goosen back from injury

Retief Goosen has recovered from the chronic back injury that kept him out of the game for five months to renew his rivalry with old friend Ernie Els at the Volvo Golf Champions at the Durban Country Club starting tomorrow. And he wants to get the better of a certain young man who upstaged both veterans at this tournament last year - Branden Grace.

Grace, the defending champion, fearlessly shoved his way past the SA golf legends to win the tournament with a birdie on the first hole of the three-way play-off at Fancourt last year.

It proved the springboard that took the 24-year-old Grace to four European Tour titles and one Sunshine Tour trophy.

"I played quite a few rounds with Branden the year before last; he's a great ball-striker. Golf is such a fine line, you just need that one break to get yourself in a winning mode and beating me and Ernie in a play-off last year did him a lot of good," Goosen said.

"We were obviously sad about it but it was great for him as it kick-started his year last year and he ended up winning five times. But it's good to see another South African coming through.

"It's great to see Ernie is playing this week, I think he entered at the last minute as well. We both like this course; we played here as juniors. Hopefully it will be the three of us again on the 18th on Sunday."

Els showed with his come-from-behind British Open win last year, his fourth major, there is still plenty left in the old war horse.

But there are other South Africans in the field that could have their say, such as Jbe Kruger, Louis Oosthuizen and Darren Fichardt. Add to that SA Open winner Henrik Stenson from Sweden, Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Padraig Harrington, and it is far from a three-way tussle.

Goosen, 43, said the back surgery he underwent in London last year could rejuvenate his career and that he could play better than he has over the past three years.