Ernie Els and Bernhard Langer, two of the leading contenders for this week's British Open, were inmuch better shape today after early worries over back problems.
Neither player was able to practice at Royal Lytham and St Annes yesterday, with Langer at that point rated a doubtful starter for the third major of the year.
Both Els and Langer were able to practice today, however, and the South African, in particular, impressed with his ball-striking, despite the wet and windy conditions at the north-west England links course.
"I'm still feeling the back low down but I played without any pain today," Els told Reuters. "Even better, I was hitting the ball really well out there."
Els cancelled a news conference scheduled for the afternoon in order to see a specialist for further treatment, but said it was just a routine check-up.
The recurrence of a lower back injury, which began after last month's U.S. Open, forced Els to miss last week's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.
The injury also prevented him from having a close look at the par-71 Lytham course yesterday.
"I was meant to play a full practice round but I never got to the first tee," he said at the time. "But I'll crawl around Lytham if I have to. The Open is the greatest tournament in the world."
Langer's back problem had seemed a little more severe earlier today.
The German, who has been in excellent form on the U.S. Tour in recent weeks, had to withdraw from the Scottish Open at the halfway stage last weekend because of the injury.
"It's improving, but not enough to play golf yet," he said. -Reuters