DUBLINER NIALL Kearney is the new kid on the block as far as the Irish contingent competing at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Club – where the East and West courses will be used – is concerned, with Darren Clarke, Peter Lawrie, Michael Hoey, Gary Murphy and tour school graduate Simon Thornton all competing.
Clarke, who started his season with a tied-28th finish in the Africa Open, recognises he has a lot to do if he is to achieve the target of reclaiming his Ryder Cup place for the match with the US in October.
Currently 115th in the official world rankings, which doesn’t guarantee him places in any of the majors of WGCs, Clarke moved on to Johannesburg remarking: “I want to get back on that team.
“I’m currently outside the top 50 in the world, so I’ve got to play, and play well, if I’m to make that team.”
The Joburg Open is played over two courses, one of which, the East, Clarke considers “one of the best in South Africa, it is a fantastic course”.
Clarke’s best finish in the tournament was fourth in 2008, a season he secured his last two wins on tour in the Asian Open and the Dutch Open.
As England opener Alastair Cook heads into the final Test against South Africa, a former room-mate is also in Johannesburg looking for sporting success.
James Morrison was in the same England youth squad as Cook a decade ago, but then decided to concentrate on golf rather than cricket, and this season is a rookie on the European Tour.
The 24-year-old from Surrey has already made his mark with a fourth-place finish in the Africa Open on Sunday and is now hoping to build on that at the Joburg Open.
But he might also fit in a visit to the nearby Wanderers stadium if he has the chance.
“I was an opening bat and off-spin bowler and Alastair was a wicketkeeper-batsman when we roomed together,” the Challenge Tour graduate said.
“Turning pro as a cricketer was definitely an option for me then, but when I scored 114 not out for Surrey Under-17s I was thinking ‘I don’t want to be here’.
“I didn’t take up golf seriously until I was 16, but got down from 18-handicap to scratch in a year. And after getting to the last 16 of the British Boys championship I went on a scholarship to South Carolina.”
Five years ago he beat county colleague Ross McGowan – now a Tour winner and Ryder Cup contender – to reach the semi-finals of the English Amateur.
Plus four by the time he turned professional, three trips to the Tour qualifying school brought no joy. But last year he finished 18th on the “second tier” Challenge Tour, and, with 20 graduating to the main circuit, he made it by only €5,611.
Fourth place at the weekend earned him almost €39,283 and a repeat of that would mean he had already topped his prize money for the whole of last year.
There will be even greater riches on offer in the weeks and months to come, but Morrison is keen to strike now because his current ranking does not get him into any of the three Middle East events coming up.
Defending champion at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington is Anders Hansen, and also playing is his fellow Dane Soren Hansen, part of Europe’s Ryder Cup team two years ago.
Should Hansen take the crown once again, it will be his fourth European Tour International Schedule title.
It would also mean that the two tournaments he has won, he has won them both twice.
In the field as well are former British Open champion Paul Lawrie, Bristol’s Chris Wood, who was last season’s Rookie of the Year, Italian World Cup winner Edoardo Molinari and last week’s Africa Open winner, Charl Schwartzel.
Courses:Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Club (East and West).
Length:East 7,590 yards, Par: 71. West 7119 yards, Par 71.
Prizemoney:€1.3 million, €199,500 for the winner.
Field:206.
Layouts:The East is the main course which is parkland and undulating with tricky Bentgrass greens. The West's bigger greens are well protected by big trees and water hazards.
On TV:Live on Sky Sports each day, starting at 8am today.
Weather:Humid, with temperatures of around 280C. Thunderstorms are expected every day.
