Els predicts mass challenge for Birkdale title

SOUTHPORT (Reuters) - More than 30 players have a chance of winning this week's British Open in the absence of Tiger Woods, according to former champion Ernie Els.

World number one Woods has been sidelined for the rest of this year while he recovers from reconstructive knee surgery and Els is excited about the opportunities at Royal Birkdale.

"You've got to talk about a lot more other players," the 38-year-old South African told reporters on Tuesday. "You've got to talk about 30, 40 players now that have a chance.

"I think he (Woods) is so far ahead in the race, we've kind of sagged back a little bit. Phil (Mickelson) still is the true number two in the world.

"But this week there's quite a lot of players in the mix to stake a claim to be a favorite. I think it's very exciting. For once I think everybody can be very excited."

Els, British Open champion at Muirfield in 2002, has always enjoyed playing in the world's oldest major championship.

He has registered 10 top-10 finishes in 17 British Open appearances and relishes the challenge of links course golf.

"It's just because of the style of play, the style of the golf courses, the layouts and I've played them since I was a teenager," the three-times major champion said.

BETTER LEVEL

"I feel I'm on a much better level with Tiger in this kind of environment than say at the U.S. Masters or the U.S. PGA.

"I call it the soft major, although Tiger's won it three times. I think players like Sergio (Garcia) and myself, we feel very comfortable in this event more than any other one.

"In this tournament, for a lot of guys you feel like you can take on Tiger on a much more level playing field."

Els, beaten by American Todd Hamilton in a playoff for the 2004 British Open at Royal Troon, expects a bruising challenge at Birkdale with winds forecast for all four rounds.

"It will be a survival test," the world number five said. "I remember '98 was kind of like that. If you got on the wrong end of the draw, you were in trouble.

"I didn't have a great championship that year but I do feel that I was on the tough side of the draw and it showed in my scores."

Els tied for 28th when the Open was last held at Birkdale in 1998, posting a 12-over total of 292.

"I think this week is going to be very similar," he said. "If you can get four or five hours of play where you feel you can get lucky with the weather, you've got to take your break.

"That's one of the big things at the Open, the luck of the draw, especially the first couple of rounds before all the leaders start playing together over the weekend. It's going to be tough this week."

(Editing by Tony Jimenez)