Els needs to stay switched on to win

WENTWORTH, England, May 24 (Reuters) Ernie Els feels a return to consistent form is imminent if he can get ''switched on'' for the final round of tournaments.

The 36-year-old South African returned from four-month injury layoff last December but after winning his second tournament, the Dunhill Championship, his best this year has been second places at the South Africa Open and the Dubai Desert Classic.

''I've got a couple of big weeks coming up and physically my swing feels good, my putting is good and my chipping,'' Els told reporters at Wentworth today where he will play in the BMW Championship.

''I've played a lot worse golf in my career and won tournaments.

I'm playing good enough to win, I've just got to get myself switched on.'' Els injured his left knee while on holiday last July and needed an operation on it. The subsequent layoff cost him his chance of a third successive European order of merit.

Since then his rehabilitation has been slow, causing the three-times major champion to drop down the world rankings to sixth place, his lowest position for seven years.

''I think I have been playing a bit of catch-up, physically a little bit, obviously rehabbing the knee.'' said Els, who has won five World Matchplay Championships titles at Wentworth.

''I've been doing a lot of work, especially the last two months and the swing is starting to feel really good. It's more normal now and I think I'm there.

''The big thing now is for me to get myself ready to compete on Sundays (in final rounds).

''I've got to get over a mental block and feel that I'm ready.

''Sometimes I'd backed off a little bit, feeling that maybe I wasn't quite there to compete on Sunday afternoons but I feel I'm ready now to take on the challenge, go the whole way, so to speak.'' REUTERS PDS KN2131