European Tour Tips & Preview
South African Open 2020 Preview
Starts - 3 December 2020
Course - Gary Player Country Club, Sun City, South Africa
Par - 72 (36-36)
Length – 7,834 yards
Course - Gary Player Country Club, Sun City, South Africa
Par - 72 (36-36)
Length – 7,834 yards
Course Info
Course Designer - Gary Player
Fairways - Reasonably narrow, premium on accuracy.
Rough - Kikuya rough.
Greens - Bentgrass, 11 on the Stimpmeter.
Water Hazards - In play on 6 holes
Par 5's - 1st, 5th, 11th, 18th
Hosted Since - First time hosting SA Open
Premium on - Iron Play
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
This is the first time the course has held the South African Open. However, the course is normally used for the Nedbank Golf Challenge on the European Tour. The course also plays annual host to the Sun City Challenge on the Sunshine Tour and this year, due to Covid-19, hosted the Royal Swazi Challenge in October.
The nines have been swapped this year so the back nine last year will now be the front nine and vice versa.
The course is at altitude so the ball travels 10-15% further.
Continue to exercise caution in relation to Covid-19 related withdrawals.
Weather Forecast
Warm temperatures with a maximum of 32 degrees.
Thurs - Sunny. Wind 9mph.
Fri - Sunny. Wind 7mph.
Sat - Potential thunderstorms and showers. Wind 9mph.
Sun - Sunny. Wind 7mph.
Stats Analysis
Strokes Gained stats are available for the 2019, 2018 and 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge and these are used here to analyse stats.
SG: Off The Tee - The last three winners have ranked 3rd, 21st and 12th in this category.
SG: Approach - The last three winners ranked inside the top 5 for SG: Approach. Iron play is very important.
SG: Around the greens - None of the past three champions have ranked better than 20th.
SG: Putting - The last three winners have ranked 20th, 2nd and 25th.
Trends
Winning score - Other than 2015 (winning score was -19), scoring has ranged between -11 and -15 at the Nedbank events.
Course form - Each of the past three Nedbank champions had at least a top 10 finish before winning at Sun City.
Incoming form - Every previous winner of the Nedbank had at least a top 25 finish in their two previous starts.
Nationality - No country has dominated the Nedbank, the last five winners have been from different countries.
In-play
Tough Holes - The three closing holes (16, 17 and 18) ranked 3rd, 4th and 1st in terms of difficulty in 2019. These will now play as the 7th, 8th and 9th. The 3rd hole ranked the second hardest last year, with this now playing as the 12th.
Birdie Holes - The four par 5s play under par and were the easiest on the course in 2019. These will now play as the 1st, 5th, 11th and 18th.
Fast or Slow Start - At last year's Nedbank the top seven were all under par for their opening round, with six of the top seven shooting a score in the 60s.
In 2018, the top six all broke par in their opening round and in 2017, eight of the top nine shot one under or better.
*As ever, follow our daily in-play updates and tips on our South African Open in-play page*
Course Designer - Gary Player
Fairways - Reasonably narrow, premium on accuracy.
Rough - Kikuya rough.
Greens - Bentgrass, 11 on the Stimpmeter.
Water Hazards - In play on 6 holes
Par 5's - 1st, 5th, 11th, 18th
Hosted Since - First time hosting SA Open
Premium on - Iron Play
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
This is the first time the course has held the South African Open. However, the course is normally used for the Nedbank Golf Challenge on the European Tour. The course also plays annual host to the Sun City Challenge on the Sunshine Tour and this year, due to Covid-19, hosted the Royal Swazi Challenge in October.
The nines have been swapped this year so the back nine last year will now be the front nine and vice versa.
The course is at altitude so the ball travels 10-15% further.
Continue to exercise caution in relation to Covid-19 related withdrawals.
Weather Forecast
Warm temperatures with a maximum of 32 degrees.
Thurs - Sunny. Wind 9mph.
Fri - Sunny. Wind 7mph.
Sat - Potential thunderstorms and showers. Wind 9mph.
Sun - Sunny. Wind 7mph.
Stats Analysis
Strokes Gained stats are available for the 2019, 2018 and 2017 Nedbank Golf Challenge and these are used here to analyse stats.
SG: Off The Tee - The last three winners have ranked 3rd, 21st and 12th in this category.
SG: Approach - The last three winners ranked inside the top 5 for SG: Approach. Iron play is very important.
SG: Around the greens - None of the past three champions have ranked better than 20th.
SG: Putting - The last three winners have ranked 20th, 2nd and 25th.
Trends
Winning score - Other than 2015 (winning score was -19), scoring has ranged between -11 and -15 at the Nedbank events.
Course form - Each of the past three Nedbank champions had at least a top 10 finish before winning at Sun City.
Incoming form - Every previous winner of the Nedbank had at least a top 25 finish in their two previous starts.
Nationality - No country has dominated the Nedbank, the last five winners have been from different countries.
In-play
Tough Holes - The three closing holes (16, 17 and 18) ranked 3rd, 4th and 1st in terms of difficulty in 2019. These will now play as the 7th, 8th and 9th. The 3rd hole ranked the second hardest last year, with this now playing as the 12th.
Birdie Holes - The four par 5s play under par and were the easiest on the course in 2019. These will now play as the 1st, 5th, 11th and 18th.
Fast or Slow Start - At last year's Nedbank the top seven were all under par for their opening round, with six of the top seven shooting a score in the 60s.
In 2018, the top six all broke par in their opening round and in 2017, eight of the top nine shot one under or better.
*As ever, follow our daily in-play updates and tips on our South African Open in-play page*
South African Open - Six To Watch
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www.premiersportsplays.com/category/15
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