Alvaro Quiros believes good weather and the skill required to negotiate Leopard Creek's greens could explain the amount of Spanish success at the Alfred Dunhill Championship in recent years.
Since Spain's Quiros claimed the 2007 staging of the event there have been three further victories for his compatriots, with Pablo Martin Benavides winning twice and Pablo Larrazábal capturing the title last time out.
“I don't really know why we've done nice here but I guess the weather conditions are similar because its hot like in the summer time in Spain,” Quiros said.
“The golf course is demanding and that's a very good way to put everybody in his own position this week. You have to be skillful around the green so it might be related to that.”
In amongst the Spanish victories there has also been a great deal of home success, with South Africans recording six wins in a row between 2011-2017.
Among those looking to add their name to the list of local winners this week is Dean Burmester, although the former Tshwane Open champion is also keen to make the most of the stunning surroundings.
“Being African, it's probably the proudest I feel every time I come here,” Burmester said. “Every single year it blows my mind.
“Just thinking about fish in the dam and when you get in there and try and catch some fish a bit later and game driving in the park tomorrow – it's super special and there is nowhere else in the world like it.”
England's Eddie Pepperell insists that the wildlife and natural beauty on offer in Malelane were helping to restore some “normality”.
Pepperell said: “This week is probably the first week all year where it feels for me like some normality has been restored.
“I love coming here, being able to see the animals and just enjoy that wildlife.
“This year of all years is particularly nice. Its part of the reason I come back as often as I can in spite of the heat – I hate the heat but its just something you put up with for the rest of it.”
