Meshack Motloung
Meshack Motloung
Since its inception in 1903, the prestigious South African Open has never been won by a black golfer.
The in-form James Kamte and Omar Sandys plan to change this when they take to the fairways to join a strong field of 156 golfers for this year's event at Pearl Valley Golf Estate that tees off this morning.
Kamte and Sandys are the only blacks in this star-studded event and they are determined to upset the applecart.
"I will be playing for the first time in the championship and also at this course. I'm confident that, should I play my own game, I stand a chance to win it," said Kamte.
"I've played against a number of top golfers in the world and nobody scares me. Anything is possible in this game."
The two leading black players will be up against top local golfers Ernie Els, Tim Clark, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman who have all won this championship before. It is going to be an uphill struggle but there is always room for upsets.
Clark, last week's winner in the Australian Open, Richard Sterne, who won the Alfred Dunhill championship and Henrik Stenson all head into the tournament as the most in-form golfers in the field.
Stenson is still revelling in his impressive victory in the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, and will be out to become only the second Swede to win the South African Open after Matthias Gronberg in 2000.
SA Open blackout
Meshack Motloung
Meshack Motloung
Since its inception in 1903, the prestigious South African Open has never been won by a black golfer.
The in-form James Kamte and Omar Sandys plan to change this when they take to the fairways to join a strong field of 156 golfers for this year's event at Pearl Valley Golf Estate that tees off this morning.
Kamte and Sandys are the only blacks in this star-studded event and they are determined to upset the applecart.
"I will be playing for the first time in the championship and also at this course. I'm confident that, should I play my own game, I stand a chance to win it," said Kamte.
"I've played against a number of top golfers in the world and nobody scares me. Anything is possible in this game."
The two leading black players will be up against top local golfers Ernie Els, Tim Clark, Retief Goosen and Trevor Immelman who have all won this championship before. It is going to be an uphill struggle but there is always room for upsets.
Clark, last week's winner in the Australian Open, Richard Sterne, who won the Alfred Dunhill championship and Henrik Stenson all head into the tournament as the most in-form golfers in the field.
Stenson is still revelling in his impressive victory in the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City, and will be out to become only the second Swede to win the South African Open after Matthias Gronberg in 2000.