This week the European Tour is back in South Africa for the third time this season. This is your guide on what to expect this week from the Tshwane Open at Pretoria Country Club.
1. South African dominance
Since the inaugural staging of the Tshwane Open in 2013, home-grown talent has excelled in the tournament, with players from SA winning four of the five events: Dawie van der Walt (2013), George Coetzee (2015), Charl Schwartzel (2016) and Dean Burmester (2017).
Burmester is on WGC-Mexico duty, leaving Erik van Rooyen to take up the lead of the home charge. The 28-year-old finished as a runner-up and 20th in the two previous South African events this season, and has the highest ranking of any home-grown player in the Race to Dubai who is competing this week (29th).
2. Water works
Two years ago, Haydn Porteous really put the ‘water’ into Waterkloof. During his first round at Pretoria Country Club, Porteous made a splash when he hit an approach shot precariously short of a water hazard on the 4th hole.
The young South African was forced to take off his shoes, roll up his trousers and remove his shirt before playing out of the difficult spot.
Although the two-time European Tour winner struggled to get out of the tricky lie – he went on to make double bogey – Porteous did birdie four of his final five holes to card a level par opening round.
3. Pristine conditions
Opened in 1910, Pretoria Country Club is famed for its scenic beauty. Set in the picturesque Waterkloof, the Bob Grimsdell-designed course, which was re-designed by Gary Player in 2004, will pose a tough test for the European Tour’s finest.
The pristine environment of Pretoria Country Club attracts a number of exotic bird species to the area, while chestnut and maple trees line its fabled fairways.
The club boasts a single championship course, which has a par of 71 and is 7,081 yards long. After taking over from Copperleaf Golf & Country Estate as the host of the Tshwane Open in 2015, Pretoria Country Club has held three editions of the tournament – all won by South Africans.
4. Low numbers
Three years ago Morten Ørum Madsen enjoyed a dream finish to his first round at Pretoria Country Club.
The Dane, who won his only European Tour title to date in South Africa in 2013, followed up a hole-in-one at the par-three 8th by making an eagle at the par-five 9th to pick up four shots over two holes – some finish indeed.
