It doesn’t have the eye dimming sparkle it had a year ago when Rory McIlroy thrilled large galleries from tee to green‚ but the SA Open‚ which starts at Glendower on Thursday‚ has some local star power.
McIlroy‚ who lost out to Graeme Storm in a highly climactic sudden death play-off that went back and forth up the 18th hole‚ injured his back during the tournament and it was to have a profound impact on his early season activity. In the Northern Irishmen’s absence‚ tournament host Ernie Els has tried to ensure all the top local talent is assembled.
Els‚ Branden Grace‚ Brandon Stone‚ Retief Goosen‚ Charl Schwartzel‚ Trevor Immelman and Dylan Frittelli have all reported for duty but the highest ranked South African‚ Louis Oosthuizen‚ has not.
Andy Sullivan‚ Raphael Jaquelin‚ Jamie Donaldson‚ Edoardo Molinari and Storm will lead the international challenge. Most eyes‚ however‚ will be on the top ranked South Africans who have been gathered under the banner ‘the boys are back’.
The defence of his SA Open title never got off the ground last year so it is perhaps understandable that the gifted Stone recalls little of the event.
“Last year was tough‚" Stone said.
"I’m not going to beat around the bush and I’m not going to sugar-coat it."
He‚ however‚ remembers his triumph two years ago like it was yesterday.
“It doesn’t feel like it’s been two years‚ if I’m completely honest‚" he said.
"The memories from the victory‚ obviously‚ are still fresh.
"I can’t actually remember last year’s event too much‚ which is probably a good thing because I didn’t play that great.”
He has liked what he’s seen about the course where he proved a popular winner in 2016.
“Glendower is in great shape this year. It’s actually probably the best I’ve seen it which is saying something because every year has been good.
“The rough’s up‚ the greens superb and really‚ really quick.
"So‚ it should be a very fun and interesting week.”
For two-time champion Goosen‚ the Glendower lay-out also has bitter-sweet memories.
“I have mostly good memories but I was runner up here in the SA Open in 1994.
"Last year I didn’t have good memories but hopefully I’ve come back with a better game this year‚” said Goosen‚ who is hoping to turn back the clock.
Immelman‚ the 2008 Masters champion‚ is coming into the event cold.
“I haven’t played in a tournament since last year’s Scottish Open‚" Immelman said.
"I’ve practiced hard over the last month or so and my game feels pretty good.”
Another former Masters champion‚ Canada’s Mike Weir‚ will make a rare appearance on South African fairways.
He’ll be in the same morning group as Els and Immelman.
Donaldson and Molinari are grouped together‚ while Schwartzel and Grace will be joined by Chris Wood.
The SA Open has no shortage of South African star power
Image: GALLO IMAGES
It doesn’t have the eye dimming sparkle it had a year ago when Rory McIlroy thrilled large galleries from tee to green‚ but the SA Open‚ which starts at Glendower on Thursday‚ has some local star power.
McIlroy‚ who lost out to Graeme Storm in a highly climactic sudden death play-off that went back and forth up the 18th hole‚ injured his back during the tournament and it was to have a profound impact on his early season activity. In the Northern Irishmen’s absence‚ tournament host Ernie Els has tried to ensure all the top local talent is assembled.
Els‚ Branden Grace‚ Brandon Stone‚ Retief Goosen‚ Charl Schwartzel‚ Trevor Immelman and Dylan Frittelli have all reported for duty but the highest ranked South African‚ Louis Oosthuizen‚ has not.
Andy Sullivan‚ Raphael Jaquelin‚ Jamie Donaldson‚ Edoardo Molinari and Storm will lead the international challenge. Most eyes‚ however‚ will be on the top ranked South Africans who have been gathered under the banner ‘the boys are back’.
The defence of his SA Open title never got off the ground last year so it is perhaps understandable that the gifted Stone recalls little of the event.
“Last year was tough‚" Stone said.
"I’m not going to beat around the bush and I’m not going to sugar-coat it."
He‚ however‚ remembers his triumph two years ago like it was yesterday.
“It doesn’t feel like it’s been two years‚ if I’m completely honest‚" he said.
"The memories from the victory‚ obviously‚ are still fresh.
"I can’t actually remember last year’s event too much‚ which is probably a good thing because I didn’t play that great.”
He has liked what he’s seen about the course where he proved a popular winner in 2016.
“Glendower is in great shape this year. It’s actually probably the best I’ve seen it which is saying something because every year has been good.
“The rough’s up‚ the greens superb and really‚ really quick.
"So‚ it should be a very fun and interesting week.”
For two-time champion Goosen‚ the Glendower lay-out also has bitter-sweet memories.
“I have mostly good memories but I was runner up here in the SA Open in 1994.
"Last year I didn’t have good memories but hopefully I’ve come back with a better game this year‚” said Goosen‚ who is hoping to turn back the clock.
Immelman‚ the 2008 Masters champion‚ is coming into the event cold.
“I haven’t played in a tournament since last year’s Scottish Open‚" Immelman said.
"I’ve practiced hard over the last month or so and my game feels pretty good.”
Another former Masters champion‚ Canada’s Mike Weir‚ will make a rare appearance on South African fairways.
He’ll be in the same morning group as Els and Immelman.
Donaldson and Molinari are grouped together‚ while Schwartzel and Grace will be joined by Chris Wood.
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