Hertfordshire’s Matt Wallace – Callaway’s newest signing – will use the new Mavrik driver when he tees it up in this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

MATT Wallace is the second top English player to switch equipment at the start of the 2020, moving from Ping to Callaway in time for the first event in the Middle East swing.

The Moor Park member is using a full set of Callaway clubs – including the newly launched Mavrik driver – and is the latest member of the staff professional team at the American equipment giant’s Surrey-based European Tour division.

Matt, who came throught the junior ranks in Hertfordshire, playing at Rickmansworth’s Batchworth Park, before moving across the road to Moor Park, and on to Alabama’s Jacksonville State University – the same US college where Danny Willett spent two years.

Wallace is one of the rising stars of the game. The four-time winner on the European Tour is comfortably inside the world’s top 50 – currently ranked at No. 32, guaranteeing him a place in all four Majors and the four World Golf Championships.

The 29-year-old will kick-off his 2020 campaign at this week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, from January 16-19, where he will immediately put the MAVRIK driver and fairway woods straight into competitive play.

The Mavrik driver features Callaway’s new Flash Face SS20 architecture, designed by AI, with a “more expansive area that delivers ultra-fast ball speeds working in conjunction with Callaway’s proven Jailbreak technology.”

Matt Wallace will use a full set of Callaway equipment in 2020

Wallace will also rely on Callaway’s new Jaws MD5 Wedges in 50, 55 and 60 degree lofts. The wedges feature the new Jaws groove and Groove-in-Groove technology, to deliver “excellent spin and control around the greens.”

Matt, who spent a year at college in the States, turned pro in 2012 having won the Peter Benka Trophy for the best individual score at the South East Qualifier, at Stoneham, two years earlier.

The golfer from Pinner has made a rapid rise through the pro ranks, winning on five consecutive Alps Tour starts in 2016 to earn his place on the European Challenge Tour.

After winning the Portugal Open early in 2017 to earn instant promtion to the European Tour then claimed three more titles in little over a year – just missing out on a Ryder Cup place in Thomas Bjorn’s team for Paris in 2018.

Wallace has also made a huge impact on the US PGA Tour, finishing tied third at the USPGA Championship at Bethpage Black, sharing 12th spot at the US Open at Pebble Beach.

He had already shown his liking for playing in the States after coming tied sixth on his debut at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bayhill earlier that season.

Looking forward to his week in Abu Dhabi, and the new season, Wallace said: “I’ve been a Callaway fan since I was young, so it’s a thrill and an honour to become a member of the Callaway Tour Staff.

“I can’t wait to start working with Callaway’s tour team to get my new equipment dialed in for 2020.”

Tim Reed, Callaway’s senior vice-president of global sports marketing, said: “Matt’s a fantastic addition to the Callaway staff.

“He’s an excellent ball-striker and putter who knows how to win.

“We can’t wait to see how high he can raise his game with the help of Callaway equipment.”

What Matt is currently testing:
Driver: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero 9 deg, Rogue Silver 130 70g shaft
Fairway: Callaway Mavrik Sub Zero 15 deg, Rogue Silver 130 70g shaft
Irons: Callaway Apex Pro, Nippon 120 X flex shafts
Wedges: Callaway MD5 Jaws 60, 55, 50, degrees Nippon 120 X flex shafts
Putter: Odyssey protoype

•Find out more about the new Callaway Mavrik range which goes on sale in the UK at the end of January and early February click here.

•The 2020 season started well for Callaway as Branden Grace claimed the South African Open at Randpark GC, in Johannesburg – his first win since the Nebank Challenge in 2017 – and which saw him complete the South African slam by winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship, the Dimenson Data Pro Am, as well as his national open and Gary Player’s Sun City shootout.

Moor Park’s Matt Wallace is welcomed by the European Tour division of Callawway based at Chessington, in Surrey

The post New Callaway signing Matt Wallace kicks-off 2020 at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship appeared first on Golf North.

Jayden Schaper (left) with the Freddie Tait Cup as the leading amateur and South African Open winner Branden Grace. Picture by GOLFRSA

SOUTH African Amateur Jayden Trey Schaper chipped in at the last to end a remarkable week at the South African Open.

The 18-year-old’s 13-under total left him in a share of sixth place, alongside fellow South Africans George Coetzee, Hennie du Plessis, JC Ritchie and Martin Rohwer, and the 2015 champion Andy Sullivan.

But more importantly Schaper picked up the Freddie Tait Cup – named in honour of the two-time Amateur Champion, who played some of his golf while stationed at Hampshire’s Aldershot Garrison in the 1890s.

After being paired with defending champion Louis Oosthuizen over the first two rounds, the GolfRSA No. 1 shot rounds of 65 and 67 to go into the weekend just one off the lead.

A round of 69 on moving day despite a cold putter saw the teenager start the final round just three shots behind Oosthuizen who was looking to become the first South African to defend the title since Trevor Immelman in 2004.

Although Schaper couldn’t match legendary Denis Hutchinson – who won both trophies in 1959 – Schaper became the fourth-highest amateur finisher in the SA Open.

Four-time Major winner Ernie Els finished fourth at Glendower in the 1989 South African Open.

Shaper, who won three times as an amateur in 2019, was delighted by his finish:

“It’s a huge privilege to be mentioned in the same breath as four-time Major winner Els,” said Schaper.

“That’s a pretty big name. Ernie is someone I’ve looked up to because he has been one of the most consistent golfers to play the game.

“It’s pretty cool to see my name up there with his and other names like that,” added Schaper.

“It was a special week, and one that I’ll never forget.”

Like Grace, who surged to victory with a closing nine-under 62, to win his national open and complete the “South African Slam”, this weekend’s tournament is the one Schaper also wants to win.

“I really want to win this one,” said Jayden. “Seeing Branden coming down the stretch holing putts, watching Louis win last year and so many great South African golfers in the past – I also want my name on the big trophy.”

Records are important to Schaper – the only golfer in history to record the ‘Grand Slam’ of South African Junior National titles.

Last March, he shot a course record 62 to win the South African Strokeplay Championship, at De Zalze Golf Club.

He also became the first South African winner of the prestigious Junior Players Championship, at TPC Sawgrass, last year.

“I like achieving records,” Schaper admitted. “Now I’ve won the Freddie Tait Cup, winning the South African Amateur at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington next month is high on my bucket list.

“It’s the only one left before I will look at joining the pro ranks.

“I’ll be gunning for in the future and it will be so much more special because of the memories created this week.

The list of past winners of the Freddie Tait Cup is a Who’s Who of South African golfing greats and includes Bobby Locke – who won the South African Open eight times – Jock Verwey, Denis Hutchison, Dale Hayes and Ernie Els, the winner in 1989.

More recently Trevor Immelman – who claimed the Green Jacket at the 2008 Masters, Charl Schwartzel – who won at Augusta in 2011, Hennie Otto, Branden Grace, and Brandon Stone have won the Freddie Tait Cup.

The trophy was purchased using money left over after a trip to South Africa by some UK golfers in 1928. It bears the R&A Club die and crest, and the medal die of the Army Golfing Society.

The following year the Freddie Tait Cup was awarded to Bernard Wynne as the leading amateur in the South African Open.

The South African Open dates back to 1903, making it the third oldest professional championship in the world of golf. Gary Player has won the trophy 13 times – four more than Locke.

Sid Brews is the next most successful South African in the event’s 118-year history with eight victories followed by Els with five – the last in 2010.

Scotland’s George Fortheringham won the title five times between 1908 and 1914 and he is still the most successful player in the competition from outside South Africa.

How Freddie Tait put Hampshire golf on map

Freddie Tait pictured with The Amateur Championship trophy in 1896

BLACK Watch solider Freddie Tait – after winning the inaugural Hampshire, Isle of Wight and Channel Islands Amateur Championship in 1894 – was killed in the Boer War in 1900.

Tait finished third at The Open in 1896 and 1897 and was the leading amateur three times in the championship between 1891 and 1899.

His father Peter was a physicist who carried out some of the early research into how far a golf ball could travel.

Tait, who was a member at St Andrews and won many of its medals and trophies, once hit the ball 340 yards on a very icy Old Course – after it carried 250 yards in the cold air in 1893.

He was a regular visitor to Royal St George’s – not only did he win the 1896 Amateur Championship there, Tait also claimed the St George’s Grand Challenge three times in four years at Sandwich – the last time a year before his untimely death in the Second Boer War.

His second Amateur crown had been claimed at Royal Liverpool in 1898. A memorial plaque to his (and his father’s) memory stands on the inner north wall of St Johns Episcopal Church on Princes Street in Edinburgh.

Tait played golf in Hampshire while a member at Aldershot’s Army Golf Club having been sent to the Royal Military College, at nearby Sandhurst, in Berkshire – he is said to have introduced the game of golf as part of life at the officers’ training academy.

Interestingly, other top Hampshire golfers have blossomed at both Hoylake and Royal St George’s like Tait.

Future Ryder Cup player Steve Richardson won the English Amateur at Sandwich in 1989, beating county team-mate Bobby Eggo in the final, while in 2017, Harry Ellis claimed the Amateur Championship, like Tait, at Royal St George’s.

Rowlands Castle’s Darren Wright – one of only 10 players to have won both the Brabazon and Carris Trophies in their amateur career, claimed the English Men’s Open Amateur Strokeplay at Royal Liverpool in 2010, having won the Boys’ title at Sherwood Forest four years earlier.

And Army Golf Club member Sam Robertshawe, who is now playing on the European Challenge and PGA EuroPro Tour, also won the St George’s Grand Challenge and the South East of England Links Trophy at Sandwich, in 2011.

The former Hampshire Boys champion has his name on the stunning gold trophy alongside a certain Jack Nicklaus – who won at Royal St George’s in 1959 when he travelled to the UK before playing in the Walker Cup, at Muirfield.

The South East of England Links is played over 72 holes – with three rounds at the host course, including 36 holes on the final day, with 18 holes at the other course.

Royal St George’s and Royal Cinque Ports, just down the Kent coast at Deal, alternate being the host venue.

Past winners of the St George’s Grand Challenge, include John Davies, who holds the records for six successive wins, Phillip Scrutton, Captain David Blair – who was a member at North Hants GC, and postwar Walker Cup player and captain Laddy Lucas, who was a member at Prince’s.

The St George’s Grand Challenge goes to the winner at Sandwich, while the Deal champion receives the Prince of Wales Challenge Cup, which was won by European Challenge Tour winner Steve Tiley, a member at the host club, in 2003.

The Prince of Wales has been won by the likes Lee Westwood and great amateurs such as Kent Walker Cup player Peter Hedges – a member at Royal Cinque Ports, as well as Blair, Davies, Scrutton and Lucas, who famously landed his damaged Spitfire on Prince’s Himalaya course during WWII, returning from a mission over Northern France.

This year’s South East of England Links Championship will be played from September 3-5. The championship was won by Chelmsford’s Jack Brown at Royal Cinque Ports, in 2019.

•For the 2019 results click here.

Sam Robertshawe with St George’s Grand Challenge Trophy after his victory at Royal St George’s in 2011

The post South Africa’s Freddie Tait Cup winner Jayden Schaper is Shape of Things to Come appeared first on Golf North.

Branden Grace with the South African Open trophy after his stunning 62 – matching the lowest-ever round in Major Championship he produed at Royal Birkdale three years ago. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

BRANDEN Grace produced a masterful putting display in a closing 62 in his national open to complete the South African Slam at Randpark Golf Club.

Grace’s ninth European Tour victory in the South African Open was his first since his Rolex Series triumph at the 2017 Nedbank Golf.

The win sees him complete the “South African Slam” after winning the Joburg Open, Alfred Dunhill Championship and Dimension Data Pro-Am.

The home duo could not be separated at the turn as they put on a stunning show, with Oosthuizen sending the huge crowds at Johannesburg’s Randpark into raptures with a hole-in-one at the eighth.

But Grace put his foot down on the way home, taking his tally of putts to just 22 as he finished at 21-under, three shots clear of Oosthuizen.

The victory secured Grace a place at this summer’s Open Championship, where he will be joined by fellow qualifiers Marcus Armitage and Jaco Ahlers.

Yorkshire-based pro Armitage birdied the last to finish at 16-under and secure his spot at Royal St George’s Golf Club, with home favourite Ahlers a shot behind alongside Jack Senior, who was edged out for The Open spot by virtue of being eight places lower than Ahlers on the Official World Golf Ranking.

Grace finished 113th on last season’s Race to Dubai after being in the top 10 for four of the previous seven seasons.

But he showed a return to form at last month’s Alfred Dunhill Championship with a tie for third.

“That was remarkable,” said Grace. “I played flawless golf and I can’t remember the last time the putter was that hot.

“This is the one I really wanted. This means so much to any South African, winning on home soil, the guys get so behind you and it’s such an emotional feeling.

“It’s the first win with the little one here so he’s going to have a photo with the trophy and then it’s a good birthday wish to my Mrs today, she’s a birthday girl today so it’s a good birthday present.”

Grace bogeyed the second but hit back brilliantly, making a gain on the third, before eagling the fourth from 25 feet.

The first player to shoot 62 in a Major at Royal Birkdale in the The 2017 Open, made another birdie on the fifth.

The 31-year-old was in a tie for the lead when Armitage three-putted the sixth.

And Grace hit the front with a 15-foot right-to-left putt on the seventh.

An excellent up-and-down at the eighth kept him in front, but Branden was soon leapfrogged by Oosthuizen as the 2010 Open Champion produced the shot of the week.

After seven straight pars, his tee shot looked to be heading right and towards the water.

But it took a big hop left off the fringe and rolled into the cup for an ace.

Grace responded with a 25-foot birdie on the ninth and he edged back in front on his own after a stunning recovery from the rough on the 11th.

Armitage just loves Randpark – here’s why

A wonderful approach brought Oosthuizen level on the same hole but Grace found another gear.

He sandwiched a birdie from 12 feet on the 13th with a birdie four at the 12th and a three at the 14th to open up a three-shot lead to complete his South African Slam.

Armitage’s birdie on the last for a 69, then saw his 11-under total matched by Ahlers, while Senior went two better.

But the Fleetwood GC member missed out on a spot at The 148^th Open by virtue of being spots lower on the Official World Golf Rankings.

•To see the final scores at the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg click here.

The post Grace completes the South African Slam after shooting 62 to win Open at Randpark appeared first on Golf North.

Marcus Armitage gets his pin flag and bag tag from deputy chairman of The R&A Open Championships committee Anne O’Sullivan. Picture by The R&A

MARCUS Armitage thanked his partner Lucy after sealing his place at this summer’s 148th Open Championship Royal St George’s Golf Club.

The Yorkshire pro birdied the last at the South African Open to seal solo third at Randpark Golf Club – and punch his ticket for the oldest Major Championship after walking off the green with his head held high.

Armitage will be joined at Sandwich by tournament winner Branden Grace and South African Jaco Ahlers – who finished a shot behind Armitage.

The 32-year-old from Huddersfield revealed in the European Tour’s latest Player Blog how 2019 had been a tough year for him and Lucy.

He relied on credit cards while earning less than 15,000 euros in European Challenge Tour prize money after buying a house.

That third place finish not only secured him a place at The Open – but also pocketed him more time five times last season’s winnings.

A clearly emotional Armitage – who played his way on to the European Challenge Tour with three wins on the PGA Europro Tour between 2013 and 2015 – was quick to pay tribute to the love of his life.

“It’s hard for her,” said Armitage, who only finished 89th on the Road to Mallorca in 2019.

“She’s working – we’ve got a house and we just don’t get the quality time. This one’s for Lucy.

“I can tell Lucy that she doesn’t have to do any nails that week. she can book it off and we can go and enjoy The Open.

And even though he has just one Challenge Tour victory to his name – after his win in the 2016 Foshan Open – Armitage is not intending to make up the numbers on the Kent coast.

“I’m looking to win it,” said the Salford-born pro whose win in China earned him his rookie season on the 2018 European Tour.

“It’s the best championship on the planet for me, it’s everything.

Marcus Armitage made a birdie three at the last at Randpark to qualify for the 2020 Open Championship at Royal St George’s. Picture by GETTY IMAGES00

“That is the dream. People say to you, ‘you’re on the European Tour, you’re living the dream’. No – the dream is when I’ve got a Claret Jug in my pocket and I’m off to find the other three.”

Armitage probably wishes he could play Randpark every week.

The Howley Hall member finished fifth – his best European Tour finish of his career before Sunday – in the 2018 Joburg Open, which was played in December 2017.

And after making his way through the European Tour Qualifying School (ETQS) at Lumine, in Spain, in November, the 2016 Foshan Open winner could not have made a better start to the season.

The prize cheque of €82,063 will ensure that when the ETQS category is reranked for the first time later in the season, he will be among the top earners – giving him a better chance of some starts in the bigger events.

Armitage was certainly a very relieved man after that three on the 18th lifted ahead of Lancastrian Jack Senior, who saw his Open dream dashed.

“Where I was a few months ago, I was off the cliff,” added Armtage. “I’ve turned it around.

“A few people have given me a few keys to change my life and that’s proof you can do it, you can do it in months.

“I’m a product of the hard work I’ve put in,” said the Lancashire lad who lost his mum Jean to cancer when he was 13 – he took up golf to cope with his grief, playing at Oldham Golf Club, before moving to Huddersfield, when he was 18.

It will be Armitage’s second time in the field for The Open after he qualified in 2018. But his chances of contending at Carnoustie were hampered by a freak injury suffered the week before he travelled to Scotland.

The Qualifying School graduate went indoor skydiving and dislocated his shoulder 10 days before he was set to hit his opening tee shot at Carnoustie on Thursday.

Despite being advised not to play, Armitage was determined to play – even though, not surprisingly, he did not make the weekend.

“It was quite pointless really because I’ve already done a tandem skydive from 12,000 feet” added Marcus, “so I don’t know why I went in a wind tunnel,” writing in his blog this week.

“I ripped my shoulder clean out of the socket and it was out for two hours.

“I went to see Poora Singh, one of the physios on the Challenge Tour, and he said, ‘you’re not playing in The Open next week’ and I responded, ‘yes I am, you watch me. I’ll go with half a swing’.

“And that’s exactly what I did. I played The Open with half a swing and missed the cut. I shot 69 on the second day with half a swing. I was gutted.”

Armitage – known as The Bullet – now has a second bite of the cherry and could not hide his delight after walking off the 18th.

“I knew if I birdied I’d be undoubtedly in next week and in The Open so it was some buzz to hole that putt,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to pegging it up against the players that I want to be pegging it up against every week and being in that environment of The Open.

“It’s just another opportunity to go in there and showcase my talents,” added Armitage.

South African Open winner Branden Grace shot the first ever 62 in the 2017 Open at Royal Birkdale and his now heading to Royal St George’s after his victory at Randpark GC. Picture by THE R&A

Grace is happy to be heading to Sandwich

BRANDEN Grace will be playing in his 10th Open with a previous best finish of sixth in 2017 – when the South African made history by shooting the first 62 in a Major Championship at Royal Birkdale.

“I’ve got great memories there from the 62,” said Grace. “I was a little bit sour at the end of last year not knowing I’d secured my spot.

“But after this week, knowing I’ve done it, it’s a great highlight so far and something great to look forward to.

“It’s a dream and if you ask me which Major I think I would win, it’s probably that one. It suits me the most,” added Grace, who has a penetrating low ball flight.

“I played in my first Amateur Championship at Royal St George’s. It didn’t treat me too well, but it’s a great golf course.

“It’s a ball-striker’s golf course, you have to be on top of your game.

“Any Open you play, you have to be on top of your game but I am just stoked to go back – and what a day it has been.”

Ahlers qualified to play in his second Open, 11 years after making it through international qualifying only to miss the cut – at Turnberry, where Stewart Cink prevented Tom Watson from rewriting Open history as the oldest winner of the Claret Jug.

“I’m excited,” said Ahlers. “I haven’t done it in 11 years so I’m really looking forward to it.

“I play the Alfred Dunhill Links every year and I just really love links golf.

“What I hear from St George’s is it’s a pretty tough golf course, so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

•For the final results in the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg, click here.

The post Armitage won’t be relying on Shanks’ pony after pocketing a place in Open at Sandwich appeared first on Golf North.

Texan Johannes Veerman was the first round leader at the South African Open after shooting a flawless 62 at Randpark Golf Club’s Bushwillow Course in his fourth 29th start in Europe. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

AMERICAN Johannes Veerman fired the lowest round of his fledgling European Tour career to take the first round lead at the South African Open.

Veerman shot a brilliant bogey-free 62 over the Bushwillow Course at Randpark Golf Club to get to nine-under.

He leads the way by one from Italy’s Nino Bertasio and South African home favourite JC Ritchie who were also on the Bushwillow.

Branden Grace, one of the pre-tournament favourites posted seven-under to sit alongside two more South Africans – Toto Thimba Jnr and Rourke van der Spuy.

Chile’s Matias Calderon, and Manchester’s Sam Horsfield – who was championed by Ian Poulter as an amateur having been based in Florida since he was five – and Greek Peter Karmis.

Veerman’s joy in Johannesburg was a far cry from just 54 days ago when he sat five-over after two days at the Qualifying School – with little chance of having any playing privileges on the European Tour for 2020.

The 27-year-old then shot two rounds of 67 followed by a pair of 66s to secure a place on the European Tour – and has not looked back since.

Veerman’s first three starts produced two top 10s on the Race to Dubai.

His 62 on day one of the first event of the decade would have equalled Louis Oosthuizen’s course record – had preferred lies not been in place after heavy overnight rain.

Veerman, a Californian – who played on the Web.com in the first year after he graduated from Texas A&M College, in 2014 – was delighted after coming home in 29.

“It was a good round of golf today,” Veerman said. “The course was set up to go low out there.

“The wind didn’t blow hard, the rough isn’t long and the greens were receptive, so there was a good number out there.

“I kept hitting a lot of good shots on the front nine but I didn’t make as many putts as I did on the back nine.

“On the back nine I made two long ones of 40-plus feet. I hit 17 greens so that’s a lot of chances I had for birdie.

“I’ve been practising really hard over the last six or seven months and I’ve been getting better. To come out and start 2020 playing like this gives me a lot of confidence.

“It is only the first round – but it is a step in the correct direction.”

Veerman birdied the second and fifth but jumped into a share of the lead with a hat-trick of gains from the tenth.

He then burst clear of the field with four more birdies on the back nine including a lovely chip-and-run on the 17th, followed by an excellent approach to the last.

Bertasio birdied the first, third, fourth, sixth, eighth, 12th and 13th before an eagle from 10 feet on the 17th handed him a share of the lead.

But poor tee shot on the 18th then saw the Italian finish with a bogey.

Ritchie was bogey free in his opening round, picking up shots on the first, fifth, sixth, 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th and last.

Grace also came home in 31 to post the lowest round of the day on the Firethorn Course, which will host the final two rounds over the weekend.

The Rolex Series winner birdied the first, fourth, 12th and 14th. He then holed a bunker shot on the 15th and picked up two more birides on the 16th and 18th.

Van der Spuy holed out for an eagle at the 18th to make up five shots over the last four holes, while Calderon and Karmis were bogey-free in their rounds of 64.

Horsfield who played with Thimba had a roller-coaster ride shooting 10 birdies only dented by three dropped shots.

Defending champion Oosthuizen also went bogey-free as he carded six-under after playing with South Africa’s junior protege Jayden Trey Schaper, who played in the recent Junior Presidents Cup, at Royal Melbourne, and is still an amateur currently ranked at 85th in the world.

The South Africans played with 18-year-old AfrAsia Bank Mauritus Open champion Rasmus Højgaard, one of Europe’s exciting prospects alongside twin brother Nicolai, who played in the last Junior Ryder Cup.

•The 240 strong field will play the other course on Friday with the top 65 making the cut. For live scoring from Randpark click here.

The post Veerman steers his way to top of leaderboard in first round of South African Open appeared first on Golf North.

Louis Oosthuizen will defend the South African Open title he won at Randpark Golf Club in 2019 but face stiff competition from fellow countrymen including Branden Grace.
Picture by GETTY IMAGES.

DEFENDING champion Louis Oosthuizen would love to make a successful defence of his South African Open title.

But the 2010 Open Champion will have some serious competition from two more home favourites desperate to lift one of the oldest trophies in golf at Johannesburg’s Randpark GC this week.

Oosthuizen has been at the very top of the game ever since he claimed the Claret Jug at St Andrews.

He achieved another long held ambition when winning his national open for the first time 12 months ago.

With Ernie Els eligibile for the senior circuit since last season, Oosthuizen will now become the flagbearer for a proud golfing nation at the age of just 37… and he will have plenty of support.

While 20-somethings Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Brandon Stone and Erik van Rooyen are making a name for themselves at the start of their careers, experienced heads like Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel continue to compete at the very top in their 30s.

Grace and Schwartzel have 19 European Tour wins between them including a Major Championship and a Rolex Series win – but have yet to lift the trophy at the second oldest open in golf.

And Oosthuizen knows all too well how special ending the long wait for that victory is.

“It means a lot,” Oosthuizen said. “I was wanting to win it for a long time. It’s always nice coming back and just playing it, defending it is very special.

“It was a tournament I was really trying to get to win with all the great champions on there: Ernie, Retief (Goosen), Mr Player, all of them. I wanted to have my name on the trophy.

“It was nice having a big lead at the end there so I could take it all in,” added Louis, who will play alongside Bezuidenhout on the Bushwillow Course, at 8.35am local time, in Thursday’s first round.

The last player to win the South African Open back to back was another South African Major winner Trevor Immelman in 2003 and 2004 – the second victory four years before he claimed a Green Jacket at the Augusta Masters.

Schwartzel – the 2011 Masters winner – secured his seventh top five at this event last season.

But the South African – who claimed the Brabazon Trophy at the English Amateur Strokeplay at Royal Cinque Ports, in Kent 18 years ago as an 17-year-old – saw the rest of his 2019 campaign derailed by a wrist injury.

A top three on his return at the Alfred Dunhill Championship before Christmas showed Charl is close to a full recovery.

And Schwartzel is aching to get over the line at Randpark Golf Club for a ninth European Tour win in South Africa – having won the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopark Creek four times between 2004 and 2015.

“It’s been a quest of mine for quite some time,” said Schwartzel. “I’ve come real close a lot of times, I’ve thrown one or two away, but at least I’ve been up there quite a few times.

“Hopefully I’ll break through. It’ll be a dream come true. As a South African, it’s definitely high on the list.”

Grace won his first European Tour title at the 2012 Joburg Open and has since added the biggest titles in South African golf with the Alfred Dunhill Championship, the Dimension Data Pro-Am and the Nedbank Golf Challenge.

And the 31-year-old feels a win this week can complete his set on home soil although three of the last five winners have been English – Sullivan, Graeme Storm (2017) and Chris Paisley (2018), although they all won at Glendower GC.

“This is the one that I’m missing,” Grace said. “This is the one that I need, this is the one that is short for me to win it all in South Africa.

“I’ve been close a few times now so hopefully the time is ticking on for me to put my hands on this one.

“It would mean the world,” added Grace, who will join Van Rooyen and 2015 winner Andy Sullivan in their three-ball, which tees off at 11.55am local time on the Firethorn Course.

The latter will host the weekend’s play after the 240-strong field have played a round on each of the two courses being used this week.

•For tee times for the first round of the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg, click here. To follow first round scoring click here.

The post Oosthuizen bidding to match Immelman as back-to-back South African Open winner appeared first on Golf North.

Branden Grace will compete for a first prize which has increased by $1m to $2.5m at next month’s Nedbank Challenge at Sun City. Picture by GETTY IMAGES

HOME-favourite Branden Grace is excited to tee it up in the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player as Sun City and Gary Player Country Club celebrate their 40th anniversary, from November 14-17.

The South African delighted the home crowds with his eighth European Tour victory two years ago, finishing one stroke ahead of Scott Jamieson.

Grace will be seeking a fourth victory on home soil this November – adding to his 2012 Joburg Open and 2015 Alfred Dunhill Championship victories when Sun City stages the seventh Rolex Series event on the 2019 Race to Dubai.

Set to tee it up in Africa’s Major for the sixth time, Grace can’t wait to return home to play golf for the final time in the 2019 season.

“Sun City and Gary Player Country Club is such an iconic venue for South African golfers,” said Grace, who became the first native golfer to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge since Trevor Immelman 10 years earlier.

“This is an event steeped in history, and to win two years ago was very special.

“I have a lot of happy memories from playing there – it’s a demanding, but fair test.

“The work the team did in constructing and maintaining the golf course all those years ago is astonishing, and it is certainly one of the best courses we play all year.

“I can’t wait to play in front of a home crowd again and I’m hoping for another good week as we celebrate the venue’s 40th anniversary.”

Tournament host Gary Player said: “It’s wonderful to have Branden back at Sun City. Who can forget his 50-foot putt on the 16th hole in the final round in 2017 which was in my opinion his finest moment of that final round.

“It gave him a one-stroke lead and he carried it on to his first Rolex Series victory. There was immense pressure to end a decade-long drought of South African winners and Branden responded like a true champion.”

Nedbank Group chief executive Mike Brown said: “Former champions are an integral part of the history of the Nedbank Golf Challenge and they add tremendously to the quality of the field.

“We’re delighted to have Branden back with us as our last South African winner of ‘Africa’s Major’.”

Sun International chief executive Anthony Leeming said: “To have our last two champions competing again this year – Nottinghamshire’s Lee Westwood and Branden Grace – is another wonderful endorsement of the quality of our field.

“Branden’s victory in 2017 was the first by a South African since Trevor Immelman in 2007.

“In what is such a significant year for Sun City and the Gary Player Country Club and our 40th celebrations, we’re delighted to have the last South African winner in our field again.”

Grace joins compatriot and Major winner Louis Oosthuizen in a field which also includes Europe’s 2020 Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington and Ryder Cup stars Tommy Fleetwood and Lee Westwood – the latter returns to defend his first Rolex Series title.

Westwood’s three-stroke victory over Sergio Garcia last year saw him become the first European golfer to win the Nedbank Golf Challenge three times, following his victories in 2010 and 2011.

The Nedbank Golf Challenge will enhance its status as one of world golf’s elite tournaments this season with an increase in both the first place prize money and Race to Dubai points.

The winner of the 2019 Nedbank Golf Challenge will take home $2.5million, a big increase on the $1.25million won by Westwood last year.

The overall prize fund remains at $7.5million, with the balance of the 63-player field from second place onwards playing for a $5million prize fund.

This year’s tournament also offers an increased haul of Race to Dubai points from 7,500 to 10,000, which places it above what the World Golf Championships tournaments offer.

•General access tickets and luxury return shuttles for the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player can be bought by clicking here.

If you are looking for an unforgettable experience, Circa has once again put together hospitality packages for the event, which can be purchased by clikcing here.

The post Sun City wants more good Grace when Branden returns for Nedbank Golf Challenge appeared first on Golf North.