Ewen Murray reports back from the splendid scenery of South Africa, where the big five are out in force...
The big five are out in force on the fairways
Despite the Alfred Dunhill Championship being played the same week as the qualifying school, therefore denying the graduates an early start, it produced some excellent golf and one of the closest finishes of the calendar year.
Amid the enchanting bushveld, Pablo Martin endured some shaky moments in securing his third European Tour title and became the first player to successfully defend an event since Padraig Harrington won back-to-back Opens at Royal Birkdale two years ago.
Pablo is an engaging character and seems to play the game with a smile on his face, but underneath all that there is a player with a steely desire and a strong work ethic.
I enjoyed watching the runner up, Anthony Michael. The South African's driving left a little to be desired over the four days, but he hung on, never backed off and his reward will more than likely be the Sunshine's Tour Rookie of the Year award as he now has a commanding lead going into their final event this week, the South African Open at Durban Country Club, more on that later.
Leopard Creek is an amazing golf course and much of that is down to its outstanding natural beauty, but as a test, it stands alongside some of the more famous courses around the world. In Saturday's third round, the pins were tucked away and only four players broke 70.
Designed by Johann Rupert and Gary Player, it is featured in a book that has just gone on sale worldwide. I am not a collector of books, but one of the world's most revered sporting photographers, Grant Leversha has produced a limited edition of South Africa's top 50 golf courses and it was unveiled last week. The Canadian leather-bound editions, of which there are 26 named The Masters Collection are not cheap at $15,000, but such is their quality and elegance, half have already been sold.
They are signed by the greats of the game along with forewords from many including Jack Nicklaus. The main presentations, named the Premier collection, which are numbered 1-950 are also leather bound and are far less expensive. If this is what you do as a hobby, it's a must-have for your library. Because of the Republic's diversity, there are so many different types of courses. Highveld and Lowveld, bush courses, parkland and of course, links land where we are this week by the shores of the Indian Ocean.
Having left Nelspruit, the plane headed south skirting the Kingdom of Swaziland before passing Zululand. To the east was Sodwana Bay, which is one of the country's best game fishing regions and after leaving Mfolozi behind we bypassed a thunderstorm over Richards Bay and headed down the coastline to Kwa Zulu Natal.
Applaud
In the Kruger last week we saw the "big five" in their own territory and it's familiar ground this week for the Republic's golfing big five. This is the 100th playing of one of the oldest championships in the game and its rather fitting that Ernie, Reteif, Louis, Tim and Charle are here to support it. I applaud them for doing so as it has been a long year and so close to the festive season.
I suspect the winner will come from one of these five and what a fine year it has been for them. Tim Clark is the players champion and his home course at Umkomaas is just a stones throw away. Tim has won twice around here. Ernie won at Bay Hill and Doral, Reteif has amassed $3million dollars this season, Louis is our Open champion and Charle Schwartzel will want to end the year as he started having won in East London and Johannesburg. being 43 under par in the process.
Also playing this week is my friend and co-commentator from last week, Tony Johnstone. Tony has been a member here for many years and won one of his SA Opens at Durban. He is staying this week in town with his 88-year-old mum and whatever happens, it will be a special few days for them both.
I'm sure you enjoyed, not just his knowledge of golf last week but his amazing understanding of the birds and the beasts. I wish him well in his 499th European tour event and he would not surprise anyone with a top 20 finish despite now being a member of the seniors' tour.
Emotional
Durban Country Club has forever been in the top three courses here although I can think of many that are at least equal to it. The greens have been re-laid, mainly because of old age, as have the aprons and because of a drought in this part of the world they are not yet perfect.
That however, will not take anything away from a week that will begin with the 1959 Champion hitting the opening tee shot on Thursday. Denis Hutchinson won the Open as an amateur 51 years ago and he has never missed a championship since as a player and now commentator. He is the oldest living champion. It will be an emotional ceremony for Denis, but a grand and proper way to begin the centenary event on such hallowed ground.
I'm staying in a lodge this week by the fairways of Mount Edgecombe Golf Club and as I write this the pre-qualifying for the championship is in progress. An early starter and fellow guest, Justin Harding, has completed his round and his 69 will see him tee up at Durban with the big boys on Thursday. Justin grew up in the same town and played the same course as the former Masters winner, Trevor Immelman, so I shall watch the Somerset West player with added interest over the next few days.
I ambled around the qualifying course this morning with the tame Impala for company. I must say, it brought back many memories of starting out as a professional. These rounds seemed the world to you then, it was as if nothing else mattered.
I'm off now to the range as Ernie Els is doing a commercial for, would you believe, Marks and Spencer! I look forward to your company from Thursday onwards and let's hope we have a wonderful championship to conclude what has been a magical golfing year.
