Jose Maria Olazabal admits he is envious of the production line of golfing talent coming out of South Africa.
The Spaniard, who so memorably captained Europe to Ryder Cup victory last year, is in South Africa this week to play in the European Tour’s inaugural Tshwane Open in Centurion.
While Spain continue to search for players to build on the success of Seve Ballesteros and Olazabal himself, South African golfers have had no such problems following in the footsteps of Gary Player.
South Africans have won Majors in each of the last three years, with Louis Oosthuizen winning the Open in 2010, Charl Schwartzel prevailing at the 2011 Masters and veteran Ernie Els pipping Adam Scott to win last year’s Open. Olazabal said: “There are a lot of great players, no question. For whatever reason, this country is able to deliver great players.
Major winners
“To be honest, the level here is much better than in Spain. It’s true that for a while we had great players in Spain, but we are struggling to see a new generation coming through. But you have a lot of great players, Major winners, in this country. In a way, I envy that.”
The course at the Copperleaf Golf and Country Estate has been designed by Els, whose grandfather, Ernie Vermaak, used to live on the land.
Olazabal has been impressed by it but admits the distances required have left him a little concerned. The 47-year-old said: “It’s a great course but it’s also very long, even though we’re not off the back tees all the time. The front nine is particularly long.
“I’m struggling with my driving and, with the golf course being as long as it is, you need to drive it well. But hopefully I can find something over the next few days.”
The Tshwane Open, which is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour, is the sixth European Tour event in South Africa this season, and the home players in the field will be hoping to make it a fifth win.
Took honours
Schwartzel took the honours at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, Oosthuizen won the Volvo Golf Champions, Richard Sterne triumphed at the Joburg Open and, most recently, the Africa Open was won by Darren Fichardt.
Fichardt is looking for back-to-back European Tour wins this week and will be especially at home as he grew up close by in Centurion. The 37-year-old said: “It’s great to have a European Tour event in my home town. There’s been a really nice swing of tournaments in South Africa, so hopefully I can finish it off nicely.”
Fichardt and Olazabal are in the same group today along with England’s Simon Dyson and will tee off at 7.20am while former major winners Darren Clarke and Michael Campbell are also in the field. As well as Clarke the Irish contingent includes David Higgins, Damien McGrane, Michael Hoey and Peter Lawrie.
Tshwane Open: The lowdown
Course: Copperleaf Golf and Country Estate, Centurion, South Africa.
Prizemoney: €1.5 million (€237,750 to the winner).
Length: 7,791 yards. Par: 72. Field: 156.
Layout: The Els Club at the Copperleaf estate was built on farmland owned by Ernie Els' grandfather and opened in 2008. Els later became the layout's exclusive designer. Set in natural grasslands and rocks it has wide fairways and several water hazards. Laid out in a figure of eight, it winds through pockets of housing with many of the fairways on the back nine flanked by homes on both sides. The four par fives are enormous – measuring 685, 607, 658 and 597 yards a piece. Two par fours are more than 500 yards making this a tough ask for the short hitters. This co-sanctioned Sunshine/European Tour weekend is the biggest event to be staged at the venue.
Type of player suited to the challenge: As Els can still hit the ball a good way off the tee he was happy to craft a course that favours the big hitters. The long, punishing par fours and fives will grind down those unable to cover the yardage with ease, while three of the par threes are 200 yards plus too.
Key attribute: Power.
Weather forecast: Sunshine and showers all week with little breezes.
On TV: Sky Sports 1 from 8.30am.
Time difference: South Africa is two hours ahead of Ireland.
