Joburg Open Preview

The European Tour remains in South Africa for one further week with the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club. Home player Charl Schwartzel defends the title.

Charl Schwartzel defends
Fergus Bisset
By
published

Lowdown: The European Tour remains in South Africa for one further week with the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club. Home player Charl Schwartzel defends the title. This is the last and richest of the four consecutive European Tour events contested in South Africa through December and January. The Joburg Open carries a purse of €1,300,000 with over €200,000 going to the winner. The Joburg Open is one of the few events on the European Tour schedule to be played over two or more courses. The 210-strong field for this tournament will play one round over each the East and West Courses at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club, with the top-65 going on to play at the weekend. Last season Charl Schwartzel put on an imperious display to win the title by six shots from Darren Clarke and Keith Horne. "It was probably the best golf I've every played," said Schwartzel. This will be the fifth running of the Joburg Open. Ariel Canete won the inaugural event in 2007. Richard Sterne, Anders Hansen and then Schwartzel have been champions since then.

Venue: Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club Date: Jan 13-16 Course stats: East - par 71, 7,590 yards; West - par 71, 7,119yards Purse: €1,300,000 Winner: €206,050 Defending Champion: Charl Schwartzel (-23)

TV Coverage: Thursday 13 - Live on Sky Sports 1 from 8am Friday 14 - Live on Sky Sports 2 from 8am Saturday 15 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 10am Sunday 16 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 10am

Player Watch: Charl Schwartzel - The defending champion has finished second, fourth and fourth in his last three Tour starts. He's knocking on the door of another victory and it could well happen this week.

Danny Willett - The young Englishman is making his first start of the 2011 season, but expect him to come out firing in a tournament he finished fourth in last season.

Steven O'Hara - The talented Scot finished strongly at last week's Africa Open to climb into fourth place. He'll look to build on that good result this time out.

Key hole: 11th (East Course.) It's a 500-yard par four and the length alone makes it a challenge. But it also requires a straight tee shot then a precise approach over water. It's a great spectator hole and one where large scores can be racked up.

Skills required: Power hitting. At 7,590 yards, the East Course is one of the longest ever to feature on the European Tour. Long, straight drivers are at a distinct advantage here.

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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