The South African Open returns to the DP World Tour schedule after a year off with a new slot in late February and LIV star Dean Burmester is back to defend his crown.
Key Stats/Skill Set Required
- Driving Accuracy
- Birdies
- GIR
- Putts Per GIR
The South African Open returns to Durban for the first time since Tim Clark won in 2005.
It is a course Ernie Els, Gary Player and Bobby Locke have won on so suits elite players with form on links courses.
Accuracy from the tee is critical on this classic course but players can go low if they find the fairway and then hit the greens.
Key Correlation Tournaments
- Alfred Dunhill Links
- Scottish Open
BEST BET
HAOTONG LI
Haotong Li won the Qatar Masters two starts back and can win again in a weak South African Open.
He is well suited to Durban, ranking ninth in both Birdies and GIR.
His form on links courses is also a big push, finishing seventh in the Alfred Dunhill Links and 21s in the Scottish Open last year.
BEST VALUE
SHAUN NORRIS
Veteran South African who has been airborne for the better part of a year.
Won the Nippon Series JT Cup in December and followed it up with a win in the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
The 42yo now has two wins and nine more Top 10s in his last 20 starts.
Ranks seventh in Putts Per GIR and 10th in Birdies.
ALEJANDRO DEL REY
Big hitting Spaniard who is playing outstanding golf, it is his putting that has caught the eye, ranking fifth in Putts Per GIR this season.
Finished T-15 at the Scottish Open last year and T-25 in the 2023 Alfred Dunhill Links.
Won the Ras Al Khaimah and his form off the tee has generally been good the last six months.
BEST ROUGHIES
KAZUMA KOBORI
Straight-hitting Kiwi who has been playing well with five Top 25 finishes in his last 10 starts and was also solid in Kenya last week when finishing T-31.
Ranks seventh in Driving Accuracy and did finish T-12 in the Alfred Dunhill Links last year.
Big runner at odds.
MARCO PENGE
Penge profiles tremendously this week. He ranks 5th in Putts Per GIR, 6th in GIR and 12th in Birdies.
He is finding some form with Top 22 finishes at two of his last four tournaments including in Kenya last week.
TOP AMERICAN
RYGGS JOHNSTON
Six Americans tee it up this week and fancy Australian Open winner Johnston is the pick.
He struggled in the Middle East but played well in South Africa and Australia.
Ranks 10th in Putts Per GIR.
TOP FRENCH
ADRIEN SADDIER
Quality putter who ranks sixth in Birdies.
Finished Top 20 in the Alfred Dunhill Links last year and looks a great price in this market.