Top stars for World Matchplay
EUROPEAN Ryder Cup heroes, Ian Poulter, the 2011 Volvo World Matchplay champion, Graeme McDowell, the 2010 US Open champion, Peter Hanson, six-time European Tour winner and Nicolas Colsaerts head the latest list of stars to commit to the 2013 Volvo World Matchplay Championship with many more players to be confirmed soon following their qualification after the Masters.
The Championship will be played at the breathtaking Thracian Cliffs Course in Bulgaria from May 16-19.
The elite Volvo World Matchplay Championship, celebrating its 50th year in 2013, will gather 24 of the world’s best players to compete for this prestigious title via a meritbased qualification process designed to gather the highest quality international field.
The final field will be confirmed soon and the players will compete for an increased prize fund of € 3 million (€250 000 more than 2012) with the eventual winner taking home a € 800 000 first prize.
Confirmed in the field is “Volvo specialist,” Branden Grace, the winner of the 2012 Volvo Golf Champions and Volvo China Open as well as three other titles in the past 12 months.
Big Easy Tour
MAKGETHA Mazibuko shot four rounds in the 60s at Observatory Golf Club in January to secure his playing card for 2013. He’ll tee it up with fond memories this week as he heads for the Observatory leg of the Sunshine Big Easy Tour.
The last time he played at Observatory was at Vusi Ngubeni Qualifying School, where he dominated the competition. Mazibuko won by 10 shots and claimed the first of 15 tour cards on offer to previously disadvantaged players.
The trick then was to set a target and chase it, and no doubt he’ll do the same again during this week’s R100 000 tournament, which started yesterday.
“I set myself a target,” said the 25-year-old from Bloemfontein, “and then I aim to do better than that if I get close.”
The course lends itself to straight hitters of the ball, and placement on the green is crucial in order to score. Few know this as well as Mazibuko, who added: “I’m confident when I get over the ball. I just pick a spot and rip it there.”
The Harrismith pro has grown his game in many ways since turning professional in 2011, and there are few better places for him to compete than the scene of his first win, albeit a qualifying school victory.
Africa zone
SOUTH Africa launched their Africa Zone VI Golf Championships title defence at Windhoek Golf and Country Club yesterday following a successful campaign in the 30th Bank Windhoek Namibia Open Golf Championships at the weekend.
Since the 54-hole event was played at the same venue, the eight-man South African side made good use of their participation in the curtain-raiser to prepare for the forthcoming annual African team event.
Zander Lombard, the country’s No 2 ranked player, edged out countryman Louis Taylor in a play-off to lift the overall title, while Taylor and compatriots Gerlou Roux, Tertius van den Berg and Andrew Light all won individual prizes. Lombard and Taylor both came from behind in the final round to tie at 211 in regulation play.
Taylor had a chance to win the event at the first extra hole, but rushed a six-foot putt past the hole. Lombard clinched the victory when his approach shot at the 18th hole pitched 10 feet behind the pin and spun back to a couple of inches.