The Joburg Open is the tenth event in the 2017 Race to Dubai and brings together the largest field of the year to play over two courses. Wet weather has delayed practice and qualifying but the preliminary tee times are out and will be confirmed later tonight.
Defending champion
Haydn Porteous
will begin the 2017 Joburg Open alongside fellow countryman
Jaco Van Zyl
and
Thomas Detry
when play gets underway on Thursday. The two youngsters will be hoping to learn from Van Zyl's experience, as the 37 year old has 61 more European Tour starts than his playing partners have combined.
The Johannesburg native Porteous won by two shots at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club last year and will be aiming to be the first man to win back-to-back in this event since Charl Schwartzel in 2010 and 2011.
While Van Zyl has finished in the top three twice in this event, rookie Detry will be competing in his first Joburg Open, but already has a top three in South Africa this season after a strong performance at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December. The trio will tee off at 11.00am on the East Course.
Graeme Storm, who took home his first European Tour title since 2007 at the recent BMW SA Open hosted by the City of Ekurhuleni, will tee off in the company ofGeorge Coetzee andSoomin Lee at 11.10am.
Coetzee won his maiden tour title in this event in 2014 and another win for the 30 year old would make it eight South African wins in 11 editions of the Joburg Open.
Brandon Stonewill be aiming to make it three victories in South Africa when he starts at 08.10am with compatriot Thomas Aiken and the winner of the 2016 Road to Oman rankings Jordan Smith. Smith finished one shot out of the playoff at Glendower last month and has been highly tipped for success this season.
Richard Sternewill try to become the first man to win the Joburg Open three times when he tees off at 7.45am on the West Course withJames Morrison andRicardo Gouveia.
Joburg fans will also get the chance to watch two Major Champions play in the same group as 2011 Open ChampionDarren Clarkewill get his tournament underway alongside 2008 Masters Tournament champion Trevor Immelmanand South Africa'sJames Kingston. That group tees off on the East course at 10.35am.
Click here for a full list of tee times.
