Genworth Stats Pack - Preview Report

Defending champion Scott Jamieson arrives to compete in what will surely be an emotional week at The Nelson Mandela Championship presented by ISPS Handa, with finishes of 8th / 69th / 26th / CUT / CUT since the start of The Final Series in October. Looking at his Genworth Statistics for the period, the 30 year old Scottish golfer has driven the ball consistently well and enjoyed some good putting events, but other than the 8th place finish in China, he is awaiting that big week where everything fires at the same time. Perhaps the occasion and title defending opportunity may produce that vital spark for great golf this week.

Branden Grace arrives to compete at Mount Edgecombe with finishes of 61st / 39th / 29th / 52nd / 20th since the start of The Final Series in October, so in quite average form by his high standards. Looking at his Genworth Statistics for the period, the 25 year old South African is driving the ball long but his individual Greens in Regulation and Par 3 Scoring rankings at each event have perhaps been lower than expected (this can sometimes be attributed to playing too aggressively). As a four-time European Tour winner though, Branden has already proven that he can heat up and win in any given week.

Darren Fichardt arrives in Durban to compete in his eighth straight week of tournament play, so he will no doubt be looking forward to the upcoming festive break. Looking at his Genworth Statistics from those seven recent events, the 38 year old South African has putted perhaps the best of all the players (ranking inside the top three for Putts per Round on three occasions). But to rise up into contention this week a better Greens in Regulation percentage may be needed. If the four-time European Tour winner can do that plus continue putting great, we may see him right up there come Sunday afternoon.

George Coetzee arrives to compete in the KwaZulu-Natal Province with finishes of 57th / 74th / 12th / 32nd / CUT since the start of The Final Series in October, so he is no doubt looking for a big finish at the final European Tour event of 2013. Looking at his recent Genworth Statistics, much the same as Grace, the 27 year old South African is driving the ball long but not hitting enough Greens in Regulation, and as a result there are a few too many dropped shots. After a fantastic start to the year, George has played a more varied schedule which has included some events in the United States, so he will surely enjoy finishing off in front of a home crowd this week.

After losing his full European Tour playing rights at the end of last season, Richard Finch has enjoyed a complete turnaround in form with finishes of CUT / 2nd / 8th from the first three tournaments of the 2014 campaign. Looking at his Genworth Statistics from those events, the 36 year old English golfer has driven the ball very well, hit lots of Greens in Regulation (plus 35% of the Par 5 greens in sub-regulation) and holed plenty of putts - leading to great scoring on the Par 3’s and Par 4’s and an overall Stroke Average of 69.50. With a big finish here, the two-time European Tour winner could secure his full playing rights.

After missing ten straight cuts on the European Tour at the finish of last season, Jbe Kruger is off to a flyer at the start of the 2014 campaign much the same as Finch, with finishes of 2nd / 52nd / 24th from the first three tournaments. Looking at his Genworth Statistics from those events, the 27 year old South African has actually only averaged 53.0% for Driving Accuracy and 41.7% for Scrambles, but his Greens in Regulation figures are astounding - hitting a total of 168/216 greens over the twelve rounds of golf. Again like Finch, a big week here and playing rights could be restored.