SA stars ready to challenge for glory at BMW SA Open
Ernie Els, the player host of the R15-million championship, leads a strong South African challenge.
THE 107th BMW South African Open Championship, hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni, will feature one of its strongest local challenges in recent years as South Africa’s top professionals seek to return the title to home soil.
The January 11-14 edition of the second oldest national open in golf, co-sanctioned by The Sunshine Tour and The European Tour, will take place at Glendower Golf Club.
Ernie Els, the player host of the R15-million championship, leads a strong South African challenge including double US Open champion Retief Goosen, 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel, 2016 champion Brandon Stone and European Tour winners Branden Grace, George Coetzee, Haydn Porteous, Dean Burmester, Darren Fichardt and Dylan Frittelli.
The South African professionals remain fiercely patriotic about their national open and the fact that four of the last six editions of this prestigious championship has been won by foreign golfers provided further impetus behind their commitment to the 2018 championship.
Els has five South African Open titles behind his name and said he is delighted with the response from the leading South African professionals to support the championship’s continued growth.
“The 2017 BMW South African Open Championship was highlighted by the fact that we had one of the world’s best players, Rory McIlroy, in the field. The 2018 tournament will be highlighted by some of our best local professionals making sure this title comes back to South Africa.”
Goosen has twice won his national open, while Stone returns as the last South African to have won the championship in 2016. England’s Graeme Storm took the title in January 2017 following a thrilling playoff with McIlroy at Glendower Golf Club.
“BMW has a long history of involvement with golf. Golf has an inherent synergy with the BMW brand. We are pleased to be entering into the third year of the BMW South African Open Championship,” said Alexander Baraka, general manager: brand management BMW, marketing services.
“We look forward to once again welcoming the international golfers to Ekurhuleni and also placing our full support behind our South African professionals as they seek to return this historic title to its home,” said City of Ekurhuleni executive mayor, Clr Mzwandile Masina.
