This week sees the Investec South African Open Championship provide a pathway into two Major Championships as the DP World Tour makes a long-awaited return to Stellenbosch Golf Club. Here are your five things to know.
A return to Stellenbosch
Now in its 115th edition, this week’s South African Open – golf’s second oldest national open behind The Open, first played as a formal event in 1903 - is being hosted by Stellenbosch Golf Club for just the second time. In 1999, 27 years ago, home favourite David Frost won the title at the club at which he grew up and used to caddie for his father. Much has changed to South Africa’s fourth oldest golf club since then, with the course lengthened to play at 7,268 yards as a par 70. A total of 15 tee boxes have been upgraded, with ten of these built new or reconstructed, and five resurfaced. All 44 bunkers on the course have also been upgraded, and more trees have been planted in strategic areas on several holes. As part of the upgrades to the layout agreed last year, a dam near the 18th green has also been enlarged to make for an even more spectacular finish and to enhance the strategy on the hole.
Naidoo defends
Dylan Naidoo beat Laurie Canter in a play-off to win his first DP World Tour title at his national championship last year. With the pair locked in a share of the lead on 14 under, and with the final round washed out at Durban Country Club, the tournament went straight to a sudden death play-off. With a birdie at the 18th, Naidoo became a hero in his homeland and qualified for his Major Championship debut at The Open Championship. “I felt like I had nothing to lose in the play-off,” said Naidoo. “I just wanted to go out there and have fun and do it. To have my name on the SA Open trophy is unbelievable. It’s like a fairytale."
In-form Reed returns to action as Swing winner
As the top-ranked player in the field, World Number 18 Patrick Reed is the star global name teeing it up as he bids to continue his scintillating form. This marks a tournament debut for the 25-year-old, with South Africa becoming the 20th different country in which he has competed on the DP World Tour. A winner already this year in Dubai and Qatar, either side of a runner-up finish in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the American was confirmed as the winner of the International Swing following the Magical Kenyan Open presented by absa. With a 1,025-point lead at the top of the rankings and 500 for the winner each of the next two weeks, he holds an unassailable advantage. The 2018 Masters champion also leads the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World and has already spoken of his desire to emulate Collin Morikawa and become the second American winner of the Harry Vardon Trophy.
Home heroes take place in stellar field
Days on from claiming his maiden DP World Tour title in Kenya, Casey Jarvis is part of a strong cohort of South African players bidding to maintain a recent history of home dominance. Last year, Naidoo became the seventh consecutive different South African to win the tournament and he is one of five of the last six champions teeing it up alongside the likes of Thriston Lawrence and Dean Burmester. Five-time winner Ernie Els is also among the home heroes, while there will be high hopes Jayden Schaper can win for a third time this season. Jack Buchanan takes his place in the 156-player field after earning his spot by winning the Africa Amateur Championship, and he is among those targeting the Freddie Tait Cup - awarded to the leading amateur who makes the cut. England’s Andy Sullivan, who won this event in 2015, France’s Julien Guerrier, Spain’s Nacho Elvira and Scotland’s Calum Hill – all inside the top ten on the Race to Dubai Rankings – are among those adding international presence.
Major spots up for grabs
Co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour, the $1.5 million tournament offers a direct pathway into two of golf’s four men’s Major Championships. For the first time in the event’s history, the winner will receive an invitation to play the Masters Tournament at Augusta National in April. Further to this, the South African Open also remains part of The Open Qualifying Series, with three places in the field too for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale available. Of those teeing it up this week, Angel Ayora, Martin Couvra, Joakim Lagergren, Kota Kaneko, Michael Hollick, Els and Buchanan are already exempt for The Open.
