DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- Armed with a new putter at a familiar venue, Ernie Els is hoping the Dubai Desert Classic will boost his ranking and provide him with a much-needed win.

With Tiger Woods still recovering from knee surgery, Els is favored to win the European Tour event, which begins Thursday at the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club.

Now No. 12 in the world, the 39-year-old South African is the only three-time champion of the Dubai Desert Classic, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Els' worst finish in the last eight years came in 2008, when he tied for third.

"I'm playing OK, but I'm not scoring very well," Els said Wednesday. "I played pretty well at the Mercedes event in Hawaii, but ... I think I put a little bit of doubt in my head. The last couple weeks I haven't been very comfortable on the greens.

"I'm looking at a new putter this week, and I've been working quite hard on my putting," Els added. "Hopefully, I can get that straightened out and have a good week."

Despite the absence of Woods, the tournament's defending champion, Els said he expected the American to continue dominating the game when he returns.

"When he starts playing in March, I don't think you'll see a much different Tiger," said Els, who had his own knee surgery in 2007. "He won the U.S. Open on one leg. He's pretty talented, so I think he'll be OK. And knowing him, he will be as strong as ever.

"Obviously, putting a knife into your body is going to weaken some points, but the knee itself is going to be as strong as it was," Els said. "The initial practice sessions, for maybe a month or two, you will be keeping your weight a little bit off it. ... I think your brain and your body need to kind of connect there."

As has been the case through the entire three-event swing through the Persian Gulf, the Dubai Desert Classic features an all-star field. Americans Mark O'Meara and Erik Compton and new European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie will be joined by such players as Sergio Garcia, Jose Maria Olazabal, Paul Casey, Lee Westwood, Robert Karlsson, Darren Clarke, Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Henrik Stenson, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, David Howell, Nick Dougherty, Rory McIlroy and Oliver Wilson.

Els missed out on a fourth win last year after being outdone by a majestic Woods over the final round, but Els is upbeat.

"I feel comfortable here," said Els. "I have some good lines I follow off the tees. But it is very lush, high rough this year so you've got to keep the ball a bit more in play which will mean being less aggressive off the tee."

Last year the 39-year-old headed up the last hole needing a birdie to force a playoff with Woods, but to his credit took on the opportunity to claim the win outright with an eagle. His 3-wood approach caught a gust of wind and a bogey relegated him to third place.

"I lost to Robert-Jan Derksen one year," Els recalled. "I remember him shooting a 65 and losing by one to him. "I lost in a playoff to Tiger another year and played four rounds with Henrik Stenson one year and lost by one stroke.

"I've had a lot of success, but I've also lost several maybe by a single shot," he added. "But it's been a good tournament."

The Dubai-based Henrik Stenson returns to his home course looking to build on last week's second-place finish in Qatar, where Spain's Alvaro Quiros triumphed.

Stenson, the 2007 champion, has finished inside the top eight in the last three years and ranks the course as one of his favorites. Stenson was also in contention 12 months ago before a final round 74 forced him down to sixth.

"I really enjoy playing this course because you never get fed up playing it and it's always a tough test," said the 32-year-old, who is part of a field containing five of the world's top 12 players.

"I've played the tournament since 2001 so I've had quite a number of rounds on it and every year you add something to your experience bank and it should get easier and easier."

Copyright 2009 Associated Press and PA Sport. All rights reserved.