South African Open: Betting Tips, TV Times
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The European Tour season gets back underway with the South African Open: Here’s how to watch and who to back
The first European Tour event of 2020 gets underway in South Africa on Thursday for the The South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg, returning to Randpark GC for the second year in a row.
Last season, Louis Oosthuizen claimed his ninth European Tour title with a six stroke victory over Romain Langasque, and is one of several top South African golfers headlining the tournament this week.
There’s an added incentive for the majority of the field this week, too. The leading three players who finish in the top ten and ties at the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg who are not already exempt will earn places in The 149th Open at Royal St George’s from 12-19 July. At present, only Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Louis Oosthuizen,
Justin Harding, Erik van Rooyen and Shaun Norris have already qualified.
Date: 9th-12th Jan
Course: Randpark GC, Johannesburg, South Africa
Race to Dubai Points: 2,000
Prize Fund: ZAR 17,500,000
Defending Champion: Louis Oosthuizen.
TV Times: SA Open
Thursday: Sky Sports Main Event (10:00), Sky Sports Golf (10:00)
Friday: Sky Sports Main Event (10:00), Sky Sports Golf (10:00)
Saturday: Sky Sports Main Event (09:00), Sky Sports Golf (09:00)
Sunday: Sky Sports Main Event (09:00), Sky Sports Golf (09:00)
Betting Tips: SA Open
Louis Oosthuizen: 9/2
The defending champion heads back to Randpark GC with three top 10s and a top 20 in his last four starts, including a runner-up finish at the Emirates Australian Open. It’s his first start since claiming 2.5 points for the International team at the Presidents Cup.
Erik van Rooyen: 10/1
Making his return following a break after a T28 at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai – his second top 30 in a row after a T2 at the Turkish Airlines Open and T30 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Two top-20s in this event in his last three starts.
Charl Schwartzel: 11/1
Coming back from injury that saw him sidelined since the RBC Heritage in April, Schwartzel returned to finish T3 in his first start of the new season at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December. T3 here last year, T15 prior to that, and is a two time runner-up – in both 2015 at Glendower GC and in 2005 at Durban CC.
Branden Grace: 14/1
Grace struggled for a large part of the middle of the season but rebounded with a T3 at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in his last start. This has been a strong tournament for Grace, having finished T7 last season and as the runner up two seasons ago when the tournament was last held at Glendower GC.
Thomas Detry: 14/1
Still searching for his maiden European Tour victory after five top 10s in 2019, in addition to a runner-up finish at the Thailand Masters in December – his fourth top 10 in his last six starts. Making his third start in this event.
Brandon Stone: 30/1
A T2 at the Portugal Masters at the end of October was his only top 10 of the year, which he followed with a T59 at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and T13 at the AFRASIA Bank Mauritius Open. Stone does have a good history here though, claiming the title in 2016, and finishing in a tie for 7th in last year’s contest.
Zander Lombard: 33/1
Lombard comes in to this tournament in form, having posted back-to-back top 10s at the Nedbank Golf Challenge and Alfred Dunhill Championship before a T26 at the Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open in December. He was also T15 in last season’s SA Open.
Hadyn Porteous: 60/1
Followed up a T26 in Mauritius with a T20 in the Thailand Masters, and returns to the SA Open for his first start of 2020 – where he finished T7 last time out.
Bryce Easton: 125/1
If you’re looking for a good outside bet, don’t overlook Easton. He finished T3 here last season, and was T10 in his most recent outing at the Australian PGA Championship in December. Earned his European Tour card after a T6 finish at the Challenge Tour Grand Final.
