WEDNESDAY, 12.30PM:
THE winelands of the Cape will play host to the European golf tour for the first time when the 1999 Mercedes-Benz Vodacom SA Open is staged at Stellenbosch Golf Club.
The South African Open forms part of the European Tour and will see world number two Ernie Els defending his home title, an event which carries a record R5,5-million purse.
Dates for the Open have not been set yet, but it seems likely that South Africa’s top players will be teeing up alongside the European Tour regulars in the latter half of January.
Stellenbosch won the right to host the Open ahead of several other clubs in the Western Cape.
Els, meanwhile, is playing in the Irish Open at Druid’s Glen on Wednesday after a week’s break. This will give him a chance to test how well his injured back has responded to treatment.