The South African Open takes place at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City this week and we select 4 players to take on the bookmakers.
This event was to be sanctioned by the DP World Tour, but after last week’s travel restrictions it is now purely a Sunshine Tour event.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout returns to defend his title and is a favourite at 6/1 with Dean Burmester, who was a bit disappointing in the shortened Randpark event last week, trading at 10/1 and you can get 12/1 Higgo and Frittelli with 16/1 and better the balance.
Although at altitude Sun City is a course which favours the long hitters although wild shots will be punished by the brutal rough. Course form is generally important here and some players just never seem to get the hang of the Gary Player layout. With plenty of rain in the lead up to the Tournament and thunder storms forecast for during the event, the course should play soft giving further advantage to the big hitters.
BETTING – Click here to bet
Christiaan Bezuidenhout 6/1
Dean Burmester 10/1
Garrick Higgo 12/1
Dylan Frittelli 12/1
Shaun Norris 16/1
Wilco Nienaber 16/1
25/1 and better the balance
SELECTIONS
Wilco Nienaber each way at 16/1
Nienaber was on my radar last week at Randpark as he had finished 2nd in the Joburg Open the year before and while he never quite got things right on the greens, he certainly struck the ball brilliantly and he has what it takes to overpower the Sun City Course. Nienaber doesn’t have a lot of course experience, but he was a promising 11th here last year and I note that he has been widely tipped by overseas golf punters and his price has come in from 20/1 to 16/1.
Oliver Bekker each way at 40/1
Bekker finished Top 20 here last time out with 4 solid rounds although he was a bit disappointing in the two rounds played at Randpark last week, I think he could be set to improve on last year’s showing at Sun City. Bekker has been in good form in the Challenge Tour and has won at Sun City before.
David Drysdale each way at 80/1
Drysdale had a solid showing at Randpark last week sitting just outside the Top 20 heading into what would have been the final two rounds. He is very much a golf journeyman, but does have form at Sun City and having made the somewhat enforced decision to stay in South Africa I am hoping the 46 year old can keep a cool head and challenge this week.
Richard Sterne each way at 90/1
Sterne hasn’t been at his best for some time, but he recovered from a slow start here to finish tie for 25th last year. He hasn’t really shown much of late to suggest he will contend this week, but he is a golfer that I have always admired and at the current price I am happy to throw him in as the 4th member of my staking plan.
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
