Schwartzel SA Open favourite

WITH defending champion Henrik Stenson from Sweden withdrawing from the South African Open, Charl Schwartzel has been vaulted into the limelight as favourite to lift the trophy at the Glendower Golf Club on Sunday.

Schwartzel, however, does not know the Edenvale course too well, despite having played junior golf at the course in his early days.

"To be honest, I don't really know the course at all," said Schwartzel yesterday.

The course has also undergone a number of changes over the years, and the 2013 edition of the flagship event of SA golf has seen the fairways narrowed considerably.

"I played it two weeks ago and that was the first time in 15 years," Schwartzel said.

"The course was different and I didn't remember it. I made a point of playing quite a few rounds, and I'll play nine holes tomorrow [today] and that will make four full rounds for me."

For Schwartzel, as the highest-ranked SA golfer in the field at 22 in the world, the course will still provide a considerable challenge.

"It has the risk and reward factor, more so than any other golf course," Schwartzel said.

Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley of Ireland was glowing in his praise for the course's parkland layout.

"It's a great test of golf. If this course was in America I could see it as a potential US Open venue," said McGinley who, at 46, is one of the oldest players in the field.