Rough Open conditions will get the tough going

Even Ernie Els is battling in the rough of Glendower, Johannesburg, the scene of the South African Open starting today.

Els, who has taken on the role as ambassador for the tournament, admitted he came unstuck in the long grass during Tuesday's practice round.

"If you stray just off the fairway you can really get a very tough lie," he said. "I hit one at 18 yesterday where I was a metre off the fairway, and I could only advance it maybe 100 yards."

Defending champion Morten Madsen of Denmark was quick to notice that the long stuff was tougher than last year.

"The rough is more penal - you're just hacking it back onto the fairway," said the Dane.

Danie van Tonder, who is looking to wrap up the Order of Merit this week, concurred.

"I almost broke my wrist," he half-joked. "It took me four shots to get out."

And that is a key feature of Open golf, Els pointed out.

"It's what Opens are all about, isn't it? The Open Championship, depending on the weather, you can get really tough conditions. US Open you get similar conditions, so I think for a tournament of this stature it needs to be tough.

"It's as tough as I've ever seen rough. But we want to find the best player this week, and that's what you're going to get.

"You're going to have to play proper golf, and that's what I think a national Open should be like."

Els, 45, is still dreaming of a career Grand Slam, needing to add the US Masters and PGA Championship to his Open and US Open crowns.

"I feel very motivated to win as many as I can before I'm done,so to speak . I still have the drive and want to achieve something," Els said.

"If I can be greedy I would go with Augusta for a win. That would be a Cinderella story. I like Whistling Straits, where the PGA Championship will be played this year, so we'll see."

He played plenty of golf on the Garden Route during the Christmas break, including a friendly against Branden Grace, who walked away with the money.

Grace, who won the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek in the last tournament of 2014, has started using Els's eye doctor, Sheryl Calder.

"For the first time since 2012 I've been feeling comfortable on the greens," said Grace. "I had a great putting week at Leopard Creek and I'm feeling confident."

Els and Grace play alongside Italian Edoardo Molinari in the same group today, teeing off at 7.30am.