This article is part of our DraftKings Euro Tour series.
SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Course: Randpark Golf Club
Yardage: 7,506/7,114
Par: 71
Tournament Preview
The European Tour moves to South Africa this week for the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg. The tournament is at Randpark for the first time since 2000. Golfers will play the Bushwillow and Firethorn course the first the first two days, then finish on Firethorn after the cut. Both courses are tree-lined parkland courses with tight fairways and water hazards throughout. Accuracy will be key this week in making it to the winner's circle. Firethorn is the longer of the two courses, and since that will be played for three rounds, distance will be considered also. The Joburg Open was played on these courses last year, and can be used as a small sample of course history. Recent form will be heavily weighted in making picks.
Keys to Winng at Randpark
• Driving Distance
• Greens in regulation
• Par 4 Scoring
• Driving Accuracy
Past Champions
2018 - Chris Paisley
2017 - Graeme Storm
2016 - Brandon Stone
2015 - Andy Sullivan
2014 - Morten Orum Madsen
DRAFTKINGS PICKS
Dylan Frittelli - $10,200 (10/1)
Frittelli finished T5 last week at Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open. The South African is a long hitter who scores well on par 4 and 5s. He is a good choice at the top that allows you to save some salary. Frittelli finished T42 at Joburg Open last year, but that doesn't concern me since that was the following week after a win. He is an elite ball striker, ranked 25th on tour in greens in regulation.
Erik Van Rooyen - $9,100 (25/1)
Van Rooyen is another local and another big hitter. He averages more than 306 yards off the tee. Van Rooyen finished solo second on this course last year for the Joburg Open. He is making his first start of the season but should be very comfortable at Randpark. The South African is ranked 11th in greens in regulation and 56th in par-4 scoring.
Justin Harding - $8,700 (33/1)
Again I am going with a local. Harding is long off the tee, averaging more than 303 yards. He is accurate with his irons, hitting 71 percent of greens this year to start out the season. Harding has begun this season with some fire; he was T14 in Hong Kong and solo fourth last week at Afrasia Bank Mauritius Open. He missed the cut last season at Joburg, but was not in the good form as he is now.
Jacques Kruyswijk - $7,100 (125/1)
My low-priced pick is also a South African. Kruyswijk enters the tournament following a T45 at Honma Hong Kong Open. He is long and accurate off the tee, averaging more than 303 yards. He is a scorer, it is just his approach game can be off at times. That is what moves him to this price range. Kruyswijk finished T49 last year at the Joburg Open. Digging this far down in price, he is worth some consideration.
