25th Feb 2015 | Joburg Open
Joburg Open Trends
There is a strong South African presence for the next European Tour event. We look at the trends of past champions.
The European Tour teams up with the Sunshine Tour for the Joburg Open starting on Thursday.
Founded in 2007, the event is played at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington GC with the first two rounds spread across the West and East courses before the field revert to playing just the East at the weekend.
Let us look at the five previous champions for clues:
Top-60 on tour for scoring average
The field is packed with unheralded South Africans from the Sunshine Tour but they struggle to match their European Tour counterparts. The roll of honour is full of recognisable names and each of the last five winners ranked inside the top-60 on tour for scoring average.
Top-60 on tour in putts per GIRs
To win the tournament you have to hole putts; Richard Sterne made 26 birdies and 1 eagle on his way to victory in 2013. The last five champions ranked in the top-60 in putts per GIR.
Players that fit both trends:
Alex Noren 12/1 Bet365
Byeong Hun An 22/1 Bet365
Thomas Pieters 33/1 Stan James
Seve Benson 45/1 Bet365
Morten Orum Madsen 50/1 William Hill
Anthony Wall 80/1 Ladbrokes
Maximilian Kieffer 80/1 Bet365
S S P Chowrasia 150/1 Skybet
Odds correct at time of publishing: 07:28 25th Feb, 2015 but subject to change
