Miami : Charl Schwartzel is set to become South Africa's next golfing "superstar", triple major winner Ernie Els said on Friday.

Schwartzel carded a second-round 70 to finish three strokes behind leader Els at the WGC-CA Championship on Friday.

The 25-year-old Schwartzel has been in outstanding form this year and won back-to-back European Tour events in January at the Africa and Joburg opens.

"He's just got so much talent," compatriot Els told reporters. "When he gets a break out here ... you're going to see the next superstar out of South Africa," Els said.

"I've known Charl a very long time. I've played golf with his dad [George], that's how far back we go.

"We won together in 1987. It was a better-ball tournament in South Africa."

Els compared Schwartzel to another South African, 2008 US Masters champion Trevor Immelman.

"I played amateur golf tournaments and professional golf tournaments at the club where he [Charl] grew up," added Els.

"He won everything as a junior, very similar to Trevor Immelman, but he's even more impressive because ... he hits the ball a really long way."

Schwartzel said he was flattered to receive praise from world number 20 Els, the most successful South African since Gary Player who won nine majors.

"It's great," he said.

"It's always nice when you get compliments but especially nice when they come from guys like Ernie who's won so much in the game," he said, adding: "Hopefully I can live up to it."

scores

Second round (USA unless noted):

134 - Ernie Els (RSA) 68-66

135 - Robert Allenby (AUS) 68-67

137 - Bill Haas 71-66, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 67-70

138 - Soren Hansen (DEN) 69-69, Padraig Harrington (IRL) 70-68

139 - Yuta Ikeda (JPN) 71-68, J.B. Holmes 69-70, Vijay Singh (FIJ) 68-71, Mike Weir (CAN) 73-66, Tim Clark (RSA) 70-69, John Senden (AUS) 69-70

140 - Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP) 72-68, Peter Hanson (SWE) 74-66, Phil Mickelson 71-69, Camilo Villegas (COL) 72-68, Francesco Molinari (ITA) 69-71

141 - Alvaro Quiros (ESP) 72-69, Paul Casey (GBR) 69-72, Dustin Johnson 69-72, Liang Wen-Chong (CHN) 72-69.