Return of the Goose

Last updated: 9th January 2013

Retief Goosen feels physically and mentally prepared for the Volvo Golf Champions, which starts in Durban this week.

Goosen, a two-time major champion, was ruled out of the game for the greater part of the past five months, after doctors performed back surgery on him.

While he has experienced a little tightness, probably because he has been out of the game for a while, Goosen is confident that his body will be handle the four rounds of golf on offer this weekend.

"The day after surgery I was walking and a week later my back was feeling good," a confident Goosen told the Liverpool Echo this week.

"It's still feeling great - I'm getting a bit tight from hitting a few rounds in the last couple of weeks and played about six rounds of golf in the last couple of weeks, but so far still good," he added.

Goosen, one of South Africa's greatest sons, said he was excited about re-starting his career on home turf and on a course that he was particularly familiar with.

"I'm very excited about the new year. I don't really know what to expect - you're feeling good and sort of keen to play again after five months.

"I like Durban Country Club - I lost by a shot to Ernie (Els) in the SA Open - and hopefully that will help me this week. I'm not really sitting here expecting to win, but you never know in this game," added a quietly optimistic Goosen.