India's Shubhankar Sharma makes his long awaited defence of his Joburg Open title when it returns to the European Tour International Schedule for the first time since December 2017.
Sharma claimed his maiden European Tour title at Randpark Golf Club during his rookie season on the 2018 Race to Dubai, where he also went on to win the Maybank Championship two months later and the Harry Vardon Trophy to cap off a successful campaign.
He will begin his first round of the three week South African swing on the back nine alongside home favourite Brandon Stone and Spaniard Adrian Otaegui at 07.10.
Shaun Norris earned a place at the 2018 Open Championship following his tied third finish in this event and will start 30 minutes later on the 10th tee with fellow South African Zander Lombard and Scot David Law.
Englishman Marcus Armitage, who finished fifth in the last edition of this event, will aim to continue his rich vein of form which has resulted in four successive top 15 finishes and will go out in the third group of the day on the back nine with South African duo Justin Walters and Haydn Porteous.
Dane Joachim B Hansen finished in a tie for sixth last time around Randpark Golf Club and plays with home pair Garrick Higgo - who won the 2020 Open de Portugal at Royal Óbidos - and former Joburg Open winner Darren Fichardt on the 10th tee at 07.30.
Big hitting South African Wilco Nienaber begins at 07.00 alongside Italian Andrea Pavan and Dutchman Joost Luiten on the back nine, while Christiaan Bezuidenhout tees off at 12.20 with Steven Brown and Neil Schietekat.
