DP World Tour : Alfred Dunhill Championship
The DP World Tour is back at Leopard Creek in South Africa for the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Here are some things you may want to know.
2023 winner
Ockie Strydom claimed a career-changing maiden DP World Tour title on home soil in last season's Alfred Dunhill Championship, producing a back-nine birdie blitz to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship by two shots.
It kick-started an impressive couple of months in his season, with Strydom following up his victory in South Africa with his second title just two months later at the Singapore Open.
Before that, Strydom had 19 runner-up finishes in his career and one victory on the Sunshine Tour. He became the second South African winner on the DP World Tour last season, following on from Thriston Lawrence at the Investec South African Open, while he is also the eighth home winner of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
History
Held since 1995 and in its current guise as the Alfred Dunhill Championship since 2000, the event boasts an impressive list of champions.
There are few bigger names in South African golf than Ernie Els, who won this title the first time it was staged at Leopard Creek 18 years ago, and again in both 1999 and 2006.
A few years after the inaugural event, Anthony Wall became the first winner of the event with its current title in 2000, with Adam Scott triumphing the following year - 12 years before he would go on to the win the Masters Tournament, and Justin Rose in 2002.
In more recent years, it has become a place for South African champions to flourish, including defending champion Strydom.
Two players to watch are Jayden Schaper and Thriston Lawrence (above), who both come into this week with two consecutive top tens.
Seven of the last eight winners of this particular championship have hailed from South Africa, including defending champion Strydom and fellow winners Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Brandon Stone, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace.
The final of three consecutive events in South Africa, the Alfred Dunhill Championship follows Dean Burmester's back-to-back victories at the Joburg Open and Investec South African Open Championship.
Last time out, course records were set
Scott Jamieson set the tone at Leopard Creek with a second round blemish-free nine-under-par 63 during last year's championship
Wild animals
The rich history of this event is not the only thing that draws a stellar field and big crowds, there is also the fantastic Kruger National Park.
One of South Africa's biggest game reserves, the Kruger is home to the big five - lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo - and many of the field will be venturing out before and after their rounds to possibly get a glimpse of some of nature's giants. And some of the animals that have wings or can swim often come and see the field, too.
europeanntour.com
Bryan Angus (edit)
No comments:
Post a Comment