Drive and iron 4 or iron 5 to the side. Once and again and again. Massive hits left and right. That is the (only) strategy to face the Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate, which hosts for the second consecutive year the centenary South African Open, which was born in 1903 and is now in its 113th edition. This course was already the longest in the history of the DP World Tour last year and now it will be even more so as the Johannesburg layout is played over 8,233 yards (7,527 meters). The big hitters are rubbing their hands at this event that in 2022 was won by Thriston Lawrence, who arrives at this event after his collapse in the final round of the Joburg Open that handed the victory to Dean Burmester.
Coto vedado: dos grandes dinosaurios que no hay modo de cazar
This par 72, designed by Gary Player, has five par 5s and four of them are over 600 yards (about 550 meters). Despite its length, statistically last year they were played as the five easiest holes on the course. Also, five of the par 4s go beyond 500 yards (around 460 meters) and this gives an idea of why it was described as a “beast” before last year’s event, co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour. The shortest hole is the 17th par 3 of 197 yards (180 meters).
If the bombers reach their paradise (watch out for Álex del Rey, 23rd in 2022), the Armada arrives at a tournament not at all favourable to ours, as never has a Spaniard lifted the trophy at the South African Open just as it has never been done at the Australian Open, which is also being held this week in Sydney.
Of the eight who participated a few days ago in the Joburg Open, only five remain in the second tournament of the course: Manuel Elvira (twelfth last Sunday in his debut with the full card of the European Circuit), Santi Tarrio, Álex del Rey, Iván Cantero and Sebas García Rodríguez. Adrián Otaegui, Adri Arnaus and Lucas Vacarisas are not at Blair Atholl, where the large South African representation, which is joined by the giant Christo Lamprecht (number one in the amateur ranking), will want to place several of its members in the fight for victory next Sunday.
Of course, the locals clearly dominate the winners’ list, with Gary Player, winner on 13 occasions (one out of every 10 South African Opens was won by the Johannesburg genius), with Bobby Locke (9) and Sid Brews (8) taking the podium for total titles. Ernie Els has five crowns.
Player, who turned 88 on November 1, pointed out this Wednesday on social media the honour of playing and winning in his country’s Open: “Winning national championships is a great pride for athletes all over the world and, for me, that tournament was the South African Open. Its 113th edition is being held this year at Blair Atholl, a course very close to my heart. I loved competing against the best golfers in the world on my own turf and I always set out to return to South Africa for the event. What beautiful memories and I wish all the players good luck,” wrote the South African legend, attaching a photo with Bobby Locke at his first victory in his country’s Open in 1956 and another with Rabbit, his caddie, at his last victory in 1981.
