Westwood finished third in last week's Dunhill Championship

Westwood finished third in the Dunhill Championship last week.

"I'm really pleased about the way I've come back, especially when you consider I had eight weeks off and I was a bit rusty," said Westwood.

Retief Goosen, the defending champion, and three-time winner Ernie Els are Westwood's main rivals this weekend.

Westwood did not practice on the Humewood course in Port Elizabeth due to what he described as "a bit of a bad back", but did not seem too concerned.

"I had some treatment and on advice had to cancel my round - I was only planning on playing nine holes but from what I gather the course has a good links feel about it," he said.

Some observers have expressed surprise at Westwood's decision to return to action now, rather than waiting until the new year, but Westwood said eight weeks off was more than enough.

"To come down here, there is almost no time change or jetlag problems and I have always played well in South Africa," said Westwood.

"There are a lot of world ranking points in these two weeks and with eight weeks off, if I had missed these two weeks it would have been a real big stretch without playing.