European Tour: Africa Open

Hopefully from the next event Mav will be able to do full previews for us for these events, but until then, here's a place to discuss the season opener from the East London Golf Course, SA

Retief one of the early starters getting quick out of the blocks - currently -7 after 13. Thomas Aiken -5 after 12

Nice one Davie, will be back onto things after todays last few work bits to catch up on after a prolonged break.

Hopefully Aiken can keep it up as I picked him in my FL team

Good news Mav - I picked Aiken too and in the time it's taken me to get to work this morning he's gone to -9. Goose now -8, both after 16 holes

And talking of the fantasy league, one of my picks was a guy called Matthew Nixon. Know nothing about him, just stuck a virtual pin in the list and when he was 2 over after 7 he was propping up the entire field. However, back in 31 and he finished at -3 which I suppose is not bad for someone I had no clue about!

I'm hoping to see Blandy make a good start to the season after an annus horribilus last year. Ended the season with a couple of top 30 finishes but had to go back to school. Got his card finishing 4th so been in a bit of better form recently. Hopefully continue that and get off to a quick start this year.

hey guys. i reckon Aiken could have a very good season this year. one to watch i reckon.

I've picked Phillip Price, David Howell and Oosty - keep going lads.

I also picked Andrea Pavan - I saw him on the Challenge Tour and was impressed; not doing that well today though.

Only seven shots between 1st and 95th, its going to be a bit of a log jam qualifier.

Yadsendew wrote:I've picked Phillip Price, ...

Flawless round with 7 birdies but can't believe he's only 44 years old. Keep thinking he's ready for the senior tours. Though did finish last season making 9 of 11 cuts. Also good round for Danny Willett with 6 birdies but 2 missed par 5 opportunities. Aiken oddly balanced the par 5's with 2 eagles and 2 pars.

venice1 wrote:

Yadsendew wrote:I've picked Phillip Price, ...

Flawless round with 7 birdies but can't believe he's only 44 years old. Keep thinking he's ready for the senior tours. Though did finish last season making 9 of 11 cuts.

You're right there Venice; Phil finished 118 in the race to Dubai...still not quite sure how he managed to keep his card finishing at 118 but I'm not complaining

Yads

I think the non tour members are taken out of the equation ie. the yanks that have only played a handful of events so don't qualify for tour membership. There are always one or two of them, hence 118 moving up a few places.

I think

drive4show wrote:Yads

I think the non tour members are taken out of the equation ie. the yanks that have only played a handful of events so don't qualify for tour membership. There are always one or two of them, hence 118 moving up a few places.

I think

Cheers D4S...... that's what I gathered.

Phil Price played very well towards the end of last year and missed out on the last 'Hong Kong' tournament although he was a reserve, I was hoping big JD would pull out but that was not to be. As it happened, Phil was last to retain his card, perhaps fortunately, but in my view deserved due to his end of season form.

King Louis seems to be having a good day today - 7 under after 13 for a -11 total so far

an 11-under 62 for Louis today - wow

Nice round of 8 under for my son's mate, Lyle Rowe today.

Alisdair Forsyth -5 after 7 holes, only 3 shots behind.

Good to see three Scots players up with the leaders.
Fine effort by Tommy Fleetwood as well, he seems to be coming along nicely.

Pleased to see some consistency from David Howell, and it looks as though Chris Wood may be on the way back after his back injury.

Two Scots and two English lads in the top ten, and I think that Lyle Rowe might be buying a few beers tonight!

Mary_S wrote:Nice round of 8 under for my son's mate, Lyle Rowe today.

Hi Mary,
That was a heck of a final 3 rounds for your son's mate to finish tied for 8th with Craig Lee. I noticed he ate up about 6 holes, especially the par 5 3rd Hole with 3 birdies and an eagle. Ranked at #971, there can't be that much known about him. Do you have any personal insight into his game and future golf plans? Does your son play at a comparable level as Lyle?

Rowe's par 5's for tourney

Hole 1: 2 birdies, 0 bogeys
Hole 3: 3 birdies, 1 eagle, 0 bogeys
Hole 11: 2 birdies, 0 bogeys
Hole 15: 2 birdies, 1 eagle, 0 bogeys
Total: 16 holes played, 9 birdies, 2 eagles, 5 pars, 0 bogeys

Incredible stats for one tournament but 2 other thoughts:
1. Is he a long driver and therefore likely to be around most greens within 2 shots regardless of the hole's length?
2. How did he mess up the 5 times when he had par?

It was a strange configuration for a tour course less than 6,900 yards with only 3 par threes. Very easy par 73 as the scores show.
Agree Mary, Howeller is starting to get those 4 rounds together now.

Good to see Chris Wood back and playing all 4 rounds after his back injury.

venice1 wrote:

Mary_S wrote:Nice round of 8 under for my son's mate, Lyle Rowe today.

Hi Mary,
That was a heck of a final 3 rounds for your son's mate to finish tied for 8th with Craig Lee. I noticed he ate up about 6 holes, especially the par 5 3rd Hole with 3 birdies and an eagle. Ranked at #971, there can't be that much known about him. Do you have any personal insight into his game and future golf plans? Does your son play at a comparable level as Lyle?

Rowe's par 5's for tourney

Hole 1: 2 birdies, 0 bogeys
Hole 3: 3 birdies, 1 eagle, 0 bogeys
Hole 11: 2 birdies, 0 bogeys
Hole 15: 2 birdies, 1 eagle, 0 bogeys
Total: 16 holes played, 9 birdies, 2 eagles, 5 pars, 0 bogeys

Incredible stats for one tournament but 2 other thoughts:
1. Is he a long driver and therefore likely to be around most greens within 2 shots regardless of the hole's length?
2. How did he mess up the 5 times when he had par?

I had to ask Steve to give me some info, as I don't actually know Lyle myself! Here goes ...... "Lyle hits it a decent length but not long by any means. 300 yards out here which isn't huge at altitude of Joberg, when I played with him before Xmas he was driving the ball very well so I would suggest this is the reason for eating up the short par 5's at East London. He said to me he missed a 4ft putt today in the first 6 holes for eagle, so could have been -7 for the first six."

I would guess that Steve should be of a comparable level - his highest ranking was 652, he is currently around the 1200 mark. It is a new experience for him over there - an earlier tweet "feeling less rusty with my game now,all a bit of a learning curve with new courses different grasses and grainy greens"

Lyle is playing in the Joberg Open next week.

Hope this has answered most of your questions Venice. Steve has told Lyle that I have been appointed as his UK Press Officer

A friend of mine is in South Africa at the moment and plans to spectate at the Joberg Open next week.

Apparently a day ticket to watch the golf costs the equivalent of £2.50!