European Tour Reports

Find out about the hottest golf events taking place on a green near you! With reports on some of the most important events from the European and PGA Tours

Joburg Open, 12-15 January

Who is to succeed Charl Schwartzel?

The Joburg Open at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club is the biggest annual professional golf event in Africa. The tournament has become immensely popular since its inauguration in 2007, among spectators and players. With around 10,000 local spectators watching some of the world’s greatest players, it is a great event to find out who is in shape at the 2012 season’s start.

The Joburg Open, with a € 1.3 million prize purse, is a co-sanctioned event between the European and Sunshine tours. Last time the tournament was held, it offered a grand finish for South African golf. Again! In January 2011, Charl Schwartzel successfully defended his Joburg Open title of 2010 with a four-stroke victory. The spectacular back to back win prompted Schwartzel to express his love for the course of his hometown: “I love playing in Johannesburg. I grew up here and feel right at home, so I couldn’t have asked for a better place to defend a title,” said Schwartzel, after collecting his fifth Tour title.

Simultaneously on two courses

The Joburg Open is the only international tournament to be simultaneously played on two courses, the West and the East course of the ‘Royal’. The tournament accommodates just over 200 golfers including some development amateur players. Most spectators will spread out over the vast West and East Courses to follow one of the international stars or – more likely – a local hero like Schwartzel, Louis Oosthuyzen or another local favourite Richard Sterne, who won here in 2008.

130 years of history

Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club is one of the most prestigious golf clubs in South Africa. In its almost 130 years of existence, it has hosted several major tournaments. The Club's courses are both ranked high in various ‘best course’ lists.

The East Course is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 courses in the country by both The Compleat Golfer and Golf Digest Magazines. This course is a championship layout that has hosted seven South African Open Championships, the SA Amateur and numerous other Tour and amateur events.

West

The shorter West Course is somewhat easier to play for golfers of all abilities. It was the site of the Johannesburg Golf Club when it first moved to the current premises in 1909. Over the years it has been upgraded. In 1999 the course had a major revamping. The West Course has beautiful sweeping fairways and generous sized greens; but any inaccurate play will quickly result in trouble by trees, water and other hazards.