A host of South Africans led by three Major winners stand in the way of a large European contingent when the South African Open tees off at Pearl Valley on Thursday.
World golf’s second oldest Open championship has seen just a handful of foreigners win the title, and if one is to triumph at this Jack Nicklaus-designed course near Cape Town they’re going to have to get the better of a star-studded local line-up.
The South African challenge will be led by Major winners Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman, while USPGA regular Rory Sabbatini is also in the field.
Tim Clark, a former US Masters runner-up, will also be teeing off in the 156-strong field.
Els is a four-time winner of the South African Open, and Goosen and Immelman have also won the tournament. Els and Goosen will especially be keen to make their mark after failing to impress this year.
Clark, a two-time Open winner, is a South African in top form, having won the Australian Open a week ago and may be the local star to watch, while reigning Masters champion Immelman won the tournament at Erinvale in the Western Cape in 2003 and 2004.
Another South African who could be in the reckoning come Sunday is Alfred Dunhill Championship winner Richard Sterne, while defending Open champion James Kingston performed well at his first Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City this month.
Sun City winner Henrik Stenson of Sweden can justifiably be deemed favourite to win here, as not only did he show tremendous form to triumph by nine shots over a select field, but also teamed up with compatriot Robert Karlsson a week earlier to capture the World Cup in China.
Victory at Pearl Valley for Stenson would make him only the second Swede after 2000 champion Matthias Gronberg to capture the South African Open title.
Other Europeans in the field looking to end the South African domination of the tournament in recent years include Ryder Cup stars Darren Clarke, Justin Rose and Lee Westwood. — AFP
