Golf traders up and down the land dread this week with roughly 240 competitors taking to the tee in the South African Open held at Randpark for the second year running. The course also held the Joburg Open a few years ago so we have bits and pieces of information to cast our eye over. As with such a huge field two courses, the Bushwillow and the Firethorn are needed to house all the players over the first couple of days. The more difficult, tree lined Firethorn course with plenty of water hazards hosts the final two days but we will still be looking towards scores upwards of 20 under par to take home the spoils here.

Louis Oosthuizen is firm favourite given last years success and his form before Christmas would suggest he is well up to the task. He is on a very consistent run having not missed a cut since last years Arnold Palmer. That being said a 6 week break means there may be some rust in his game and mistakes may creep in. For that reason I'll be steering clear of the 5/1 and looking elsewhere for some juicier prices.

Rasmus Hojgaard won the Mauritius Open towards the end of 2019 at 18 years old and I have the feeling we could have a very special player here. Not many have achieved a feat so young in golf and the manner in which he won suggests he is made of stern stuff. He had chances on each of the first two play off holes to win and one may be excused for thinking it wasn't meant to be as he hit superlative shots one after the other without gain. Finally though the eagle landed on the third playoff hole and he was a European Tour winner. It reminded me somewhat of when Kaymer burst onto the scene and I don't think I've seen more class from an 18 year old probably since McIlroy. I expect big things from this Dane and I'd be surprised if he doesn't add to his tally this year. His swing is a thing of beauty and I'd back him at this price in these fields every week until I'm convinced he's not as good as I think. For now though, I'll be sticking to my hunch that this kid is the real deal and I'll happily take the 60/1.

2.5pts each-way Rasmus Hojgaard 60/1 (1/5 7 places)

Rasmus Hojgaard - 2.5pts e/w @ 60/1

Jamie Donaldson produced a mini comeback in the second half of last year and will be looking to continue this better form and improve the world ranking. He fell to a 1119th in the world in the Summer of 2019 before staging a revival of sorts with top tens coming in Scotland and in Sweden. More encouraging results were posted towards the end of the year most notably at Paris National where he was in 3rd spot heading into the final day with a lively chance before succumbing to a 78 eventually finishing 23rd. Nevertheless that was an impressive performance in France and there may be similarities between that course and the Firethorn which demands a good deal of accuracy meandering through the various hazards. He topped the Strokes Gained Around the Green category in Europe last year which is another aspect needed around these parts with the 1st and 2nd in each of the last two stagings at these tracks have finished in the top 4 for scrambling that week. One with a high reputation who might just be able to upset the younger sorts this week.

1pt each-way Jamie Donaldson 90/1 (1/5 7 places)

Jamie Donaldson - 1pt e/w @ 90/1

Connor Syme enjoyed a fruitful year on the Challenge Tour in 2019 and kicked off the main tour in fine fashion with 11th at the Alfred Dunhill and 9th in Mauritius. He lies 2nd in Strokes Gained Off the Tee for the three events played on the European Tour this season and looks ready to kick on and potentially grab a win on the main tour. He has plenty of experience in South Africa as I noted when we backed him at Leopard Creek and two if his best finishes on the tour have indeed come here. If he can continue where he left off in 2019 he must hold a lively chance. The soft course should play into his hands also.

1pt each-way Connor Syme 70/1 (1/5 8 places)

Connor Syme - 1pt e/w @ 70/1

Finally I'll take a chance on Tapio Pulkkanen. The Finn hasn't somewhat lived up to expectations having graduated to the main stage in 2018. He played some savage stuff the year before on the Challenge Tour and despite flashes of brilliance here and there has yet to really come close to getting over the line. This represents a fair opportunity though if he can reproduce the heroics which saw him lead at halfway here in the Joburg in 2017 opening with rounds of 65 and 64. Three rounds in the 60s followed last year for a finish of 15th and clearly these courses suit his eye. Worth chancing when there has been a break of a few weeks. Maybe more of a chance of nabbing the First Round Lead so I'll have a small bet on him on the Bushwillow track.

0.75pt each-way Tapio Pulkkanen 100/1 (1/5 8 places)

0.5pt each-way Tapio Pulkkanen First Round Leader Bushwillow Course 45/1 (1/5 6 places)

Tapio Pulkkanen - 0.75pts e/w @ 100/1
Tapio Pulkkanen First Round Leader Bushwillow Course - 0.5pts e/w @ 45/1

Christiaan Bezuidenhout was in fine shape the second half of last year and can not be easily ruled out here of another classy performance in his homeland. He had a fair chance last time out heading into day four of the Mauritius Open only to fire a lacklustre 72 and finish just outside the top 20. Previous to that we know how well he was going with 12th in Dubai, 17th in the HSBC and 3rd at Wentworth to add to his Summer win in Spain. This lad has some untapped ability yet to be seen and a further rise up the rankings possibly towards the top 50 can not be ruled out. He was lying 7th in the Joburg here a few years ago with one day to go before falling to a 75 ruling out his chances. Previous to that he shot 3 rounds in the 60s so can't be easily dismissed.

1pt each-way Christiaan Bezuidenhout 33/1 (1/5 7 places)

Christiaan Bezuidenhout - 1pt e/w @ 33/1