The third edition of the Joburg Open begins on Thursday with the 210 competitors needing to grip-and-let-rip as they face some murderously long par-4s on Royal Johannesburg and Kensington's challenging East course.
The 472m (516 yards) par-5 first hole has been converted to a par-4, while the back-breaking 10th and 11th holes - reputed to be the longest back-to-back par-4s in world golf - are also both over 500 yards from tee to green.
Clearly, length off the tee is going to be important, but one player who shouldn't find this a problem is defending champion Richard Sterne. The 27-year-old from Pretoria posted thrilling victories in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek and the South African Open at Pearl Valley, boosting his 2008 Sunshine Tour Order of Merit earnings to a record R6 million. After the SA Open, though, he confessed he felt burnt out, not only through fatigue, but also because of severe back and neck pain. "I feel a lot better now, though," he said yesterday, as he chased a record-equalling third straight win on the European Tour.
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Joburg Open boasts big prize
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