Joburg Open gets 2007 European Tour underway

BY Bruce Young | European PGA Tour | 2007 Joburg Open | Preview | 10 Jan 2007

While the 2007 European Tour season started six events and two months ago, the first event of the actual calendar year 2007 starts in Johannesburg, South Africa this Thursday when the inaugural staging of the Joburg Open takes place at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Clubs.

The two layouts at this golfing complex, the time honoured, East and West Courses, will be used over the opening two days providing the opportunity for an expanded field of 202 players prior to the cut to the top 70 on Friday evening. The East Course is the more well known having hosted significant events in South African golf on a number of occasions.

Co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour of South Africa, the event is lacking some of the absolute stars of South African golf but in Charles Schwartzel they have one player who has elevated his status in world golf over the last twelve months and appears ready to now fulfil the enormous potential he has shown since turning professional at the age of 18 in 2002. In 2006 Schwartzel had his best finish on the European Tour when 52nd on the money list and after a brilliant start to season 2007 he finds himself currently in 6th place in Europe. That does not either include an impressive 5th placing at the Nedland Bank event at Sun City.

Schwartzel has shown himself to be very comfortable at home, winning the Alfred Dunill Championship in late 2004, the 2006 Vodacom Tour Championship, the 2005/06 South African Order of Merit and he is currently third on the 2006/07 Order of Merit. In the form he has been in of late, Schwartzel looks the man to beat this week.

Schwartzel’s fellow countryman, Darren Fichardt, was also in good form late in 2006, finishing 4th at both the South African Open and the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Fichardt played well early in the year in 2006 and in his current form looks set to continue that trend.

Ricardo Gonzalez played well late in the 2006 European Tour season and finished runner up in a South American Challenge Tour event also. He played well early in 2006 and has shown a capacity to compete successfully in many parts of the world. He has seldom played in South Africa although when he has he has typically played with some success.

Sweden’s Patrik Sjoland is an interesting entrant having finished third behind Els and Immelman at the recent South African Open. Sjoland was one of Europe’s best in the late 1990’s but has struggled to regain that form in recent years. He displayed that he was close to it at Humewood and might go on with it this week.

There are a few Australasians here desperate to take advantage of early season starts to consolidate their position on the European Tour. Steve Alker returns to the European Tour in 2007 after several seasons in the US playing both the Nationwide and USPGA Tour. Alker gained his card at the recent Tour School.

New South Wales golfer, Matthew Zions, played collegiate golf in the US but gained a card for Europe late last year. Simon Nash blew a great chance to gain his European card over the closing holes at the European Tour School but he gets a start in this expanded field and from the category just outside those with their cards.

Terry Pilkadaris is here via his category just outside those who finished inside the top 115 in 2006 and Daniel Gaunt appears to narrowly sneaked in via his Challenge Tour status.

The tournament carries prizemoney of €1 million.