Powerful field for SAA Open
12 October 2007
Reigning US Open champion Angel Cabrera will lead a field that includes four Major winners and two Presidents Cup campaigners when the South African Airways Open tees off at Pearl Valley Golf Estates in the Western Cape in December.
The Argentinian star will join defending South African Airways Open champion Ernie Els, former champion Retief Goosen, and former world number one Greg Norman on the fairways of the Jack Nicklaus-designed Pearl Valley.
The purse for the Championship, to be played from 13 to 16 December, is €1-million.
Pearl Valley Golf Estates
A three-year deal has been concluded for Pearl Valley Golf Estates to become the home of the Championship for the next three years. It is aimed at ensuring greater investment in
the medium and long-term success of the Open.
The deal, and the presence of five of the world's leading golfers and the iconic Norman - known as the Great White Shark - offer powerful examples of the growing status the South African Airways Open enjoys on the international golf schedule.
Cabrera claimed his first Major in the US Open at Oakmont this year, while Els and Goosen bring a total of five Majors between them, and Norman's record includes 88 tournament wins, including two Majors.
The world-class field also includes Presidents Cup campaigners and former South African Airways Open champions Trevor Immelman and Tim Clark.
South African winner
In the last five years, Els (2006 champion), Goosen (December 2005 champion), Immelman (2003 and 2004 champion) and Clark (2002 and January 2005 champion) have dominated the Championship, with the winner emerging from South Africa's leading campaigners on the global stage.
This
year's field for the Sunshine Tour and European Tour co-sanctioned tournament indicates the increasing prestige the second oldest national Open in golf is enjoying.
Dr Khaya Ngqula, Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways, said: "We are honoured to be part of the tournament, which has gone from strength to strength. It has provided the country with worldwide recognition for its contribution towards one of the most popular sports in the world.
"Part of a tournament's success is the course that hosts it. Pearl Valley Golf Estates is a world-class partner for a world-class event. Its location in the heart of the winelands also allows us to achieve our other objective, which is to use the Championship to promote South Africa and international tourism.
"With this next edition of the Championship, we have aligned South Africa's famous golfing pedigree with its equally famous tourist attractions."
Staying put
Traditionally,
the Championship has moved around the country every year. However, as Neale Kunhardt, President of the South African Golf Association, explained, the Championship has found its own Augusta National in Pearl Valley.
"The decision to make Pearl Valley the home of the South African Airways Open for the next three years will be a major boost for our premier event. It will enable the organisers to concentrate their efforts on both short and medium term objectives, knowing that any enhancements made this year will benefit the event for the next two years as well.
"Pearl Valley has become a great test of golf in a very short time and the anticipated challenge will certainly excite both players and spectators over the next three years."
Long-running
The South African Airways Open was first played in 1893, making it second only to the British Open in age. It even pre-dates the modern Olympics, which were first contested in 1896.
"The
Sunshine Tour salutes all the parties involved for their initiative to further enhance the event in bringing the world’s second oldest Open Championship to Pearl Valley, designed by Jack Nicklaus, one of the greatest living golf legends," said Sunshine Tour Commissioner, Johan Immelman.
"The South African Airways Open is symbolic of great tradition. It boasts a long and illustrious history and we look forward to another wonderful edition of our flagship tournament unfolding in December."
The Championship has also occupied an important place on the international golf calendar, and only six foreigners have managed to lift the trophy in the modern era, the last being Swede Mathias Grönberg in 2000.
George O'Grady, chief executive of The European Tour, said: "The European Tour has enjoyed the opportunity to visit South Africa for more than a decade now and our members will enjoy the chance to return to the beautiful Western Cape to compete at the superb Jack
Nicklaus-designed signature course at Pearl Valley."
SAinfo reporter
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