South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen. Picture credit: AP Photo/Matt Dunham
PGA Championship: Six South Africans aim to end 48-year drought
Gary Player was the last South African to win the PGA Championship all the way back in 1972. Six South Africans take aim at ending the drought.
South Africa’s Louis Oosthuizen. Picture credit: AP Photo/Matt Dunham
The first major of the 2020 Golf calendar gets underway tonight at TPC Harding in San Francisco with six South Africans in the mix for the PGA Championship.
Six out of the 156 players to take to the course at Harding Park are of South African origin with the highest ranked of the lot being Louis Oosthuizen (24th).
South Africans at the PGA Championship
Oosthuizen heads into the PGA Championship in fine form after last week’s strong WGC showing in Memphis, USA. Oosthuizen ended in sixth place, four shots behind winner Justin Thomas.
The 2010 US Open winner is joined by 44th ranked Erik Van Rooyen who’ll be looking to continue on from his incredible debut at last year’s PGA Championship where he finished tied for eighth.
Charl Schwartzel (187th), Dylan Fritelli (102nd), Shaun Norris (71st) and Christiaan Bezuidenhout (47th) join Oosthuizen and Van Rooyen in aiming to become the first South African to win the PGA Championship since Gary Player did in 1972.
Who can stop Brooks Koepka?
Two time defending champion Brooks Koepka emerges as the front-runner to win this weeks PGA Championship. It’s no secret that the the PGA Championship has favoured the big-hitters in recent years and this year looks like no other with Koepka being my personal favourite to come out trumps.
Justin Thomas heads into action as the World’s top ranked golfer however many questions have been raised over his inability to consistently shine at Majors. He’ll no doubt be looking to answer his critics with a win this week.
Tiger Woods is still easing himself back into action after the lengthy coronavirus pandemic break and a record 16th title might be a push too far, however nothing is impossible with Woods.
15-time major winner Rory McIlroy will be looking to get himself out of his recent slump which has seen him lose his number one ranking to Justin Thomas. There’s no doubt the 31-year-old will be looking to come out trumps amongst the big guns on show.
You can follow the entire PGA Championship event live on SuperSport. Early coverage gets underway from 16:00 (SAST) on SuperSport 1. You can also live-stream all of the action on DSTV now (Subscription required).
