SA OPEN PREVIEW
so. At 17 we’ve gone right back into the bush about 50 metres, so that will make it about 410 metres. And 18 will play at 292 compared to 250 in 2010 when it played to an average of 3.48. Into a breeze that makes it a tougher proposition to birdie the hole with its new angled green.” There were 16 eagles at 18 in the 2010 Open, including one by runner-up Retief Goosen. “The defence of the course will be the runoffs around the greens which have been mown tight. The bump-and-run will be a popular recovery shot, as will use of the putter from off the green. The rough is not going to be long, but fluffy enough to promote fliers.”
Stimpmeter, according to Kevin Stone, divisional KwaZulu-Natal manager of Matko Turf, which has the maintenance contract. “That’s the quickest they will have been played, and DP World Tour agronomist Eddie Adams, on his regular visits, is happy with the way the bent grass is handling the conditions,” said Stone, who played in five SA Opens at DCC, the last in 2005, and whose son Brandon, the 2016 Open champion, will contest his first championship in Durban. “We’ve built new back tees on each of the last four holes which have stretched the course by another 100 metres or
SA OPEN CHAMPIONS AT DCC 2010 Ernie Els 263 2005 Tim Clark 273 2002 Tim Clark 269 1998 Ernie Els 273 1993 Tony Johnstone 267 1991 Wayne Westner 272 1988 Wayne Westner 275 1981 Bobby Cole 279 1976 Gary Player 280 1973 Bob Charles 282 1969 Gary Player 273 1963 Retief Waltman 281 1956 Gary Player 286 1950 Bobby Locke 280 1939 Bobby Locke 279 1928 Jock Brews 297 1924 Bert Elkin 316
ERNIE VERSUS RETIEF at Centenary Open
T he 2010 Centenary Open began inauspiciously on December 16 with incessant rain which only allowed two hours play the first day. But it turned out to be an open for the ages, a final showdown between great rivals Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. The two 41-year-old legends rolled back the years in a memorable head-to-head over the remaining three days, including 36 together on Sunday. They each had 26 birdies and two eagles. Els shot 65-65-67-66 for a new Open record of 263, and Goosen 64-68-66-66 for 264 to equal the old record. Louis Oosthuizen was third on 267 having posted 64-63 on Sunday. Ernie won five Opens, yet there might have been two more but for Goosen, who regards his two victories as special achievements. “My two
to 50 and ties on Sunday. Els teed up at 8.45 with a two-shot lead over Goosen, but at the turn found himself three shots back after the Goose had gone out in 31. Els birdied five holes to come home in 31 himself and keep a one-shot advantage. Els was in control throughout the afternoon round, an eagle three at 14 putting him four ahead. But Goosen sprinted to the finish with birdies at 16-17-18 to close the gap. There was a hole-in-one on Sunday morning by fourth-place finisher Charl Schwartzel at the 15th which put BMW in a quandary. There was a BMW X3 worth R615 000 (it costs three times that today) for the first ace in the final round. But the board behind the tee just stated a hole-in- one on Sunday. Schwartzel was given the keys to the car.
SA Open titles,” said Goosen, “at Randpark in 1995 and The Links at Fancourt in 2005, are special to me because in both of them I beat Ernie, who was always the best player in the field.” Their December 2005 battle at Fancourt, the only time the Open has gone to The Links, was one of the finest last-round duels. Els was on the backfoot after an opening round 76 but clawed his way back into a Sunday pairing with Goosen, with no one else in contention. Goosen kept his rival at bay most of the day, but Els struck late with birdies at 14-15-16 to tie. Then the Goose chipped in from the back of the 17th green for a 2 to jump in front again. Els had a close-range eagle putt to force a playoff on 18, but it lipped out. The 2010 Open field was reduced
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