Golf: Harrington, Els seek big improvements

Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els will both set out in the Volvo Champions at The Links at Fancourt on Thursday on what they hope will be much improved golfing years.Last year was well below average, said Harrington, who won back-to-back British Opens in 2007 and 2008, adding the US PGA Championship in 2008, but who has slipped to 89 in the world rankings.Id like to get my sense of humour back, said three-time Major winner Els, acknowledging that his putting woes in recent years had taken the smile off his face as well as sending him plunging to a world ranking of 71.Harrington, 40, said a measure of how his golf had declined was that in his peak year of 2008 he had improved his position in every final round he had played.In 2011 I went backwards every Sunday, he rued.Although it had been a poor year, Harrington said it had ended on a positive note.I sorted out a recurring neck injury that had been plaguing me for 10 years. Towards the end of the year I found something in my mental game and something in my golf swing that had been bothering me for the last five years.Els, though, has more immediate ambitions.He will be playing on a course he knows well and says he believes that gives him an advantage over players arriving from the European winter.Ive been coming here for 22 years so its home for me and my family, he said.Im hitting the ball beautifully, Im very happy with my ball striking. Im still working on the flat stick. Ive played the course all December so Ive got a good feel for the course.Els, 42, admitted that 2011 had been a dismal year and said he was determined to turn things around.I kind of lost my sense of humour, he said. When youre not putting well you lose it, so Id like to get my sense of humour back.Earning a place at the Masters is one of his short-term goals.I dont need reminding about my ranking. I know where I stand and what I need to do. Ive got a couple of months and its another incentive to play good golf. I dont want to miss the Masters.