Golf Central

The European Tour heads to South Africa this week for the Alfred Dunhill Championship, an event co-sanctioned by the European and Sunshine Tours. It takes place at the Leopard Creek Golf Club in Mpumalanga and I’m backing three natives to shine on home soil…

Ernie Els @ 10/3 with Betfred: World number five Ernie Els is going for his fourth success in this event and has also finished runner-up on two occasions. The Big Easy was up against a much stronger field in last weeks Nedbank Golf Challenge and finished a respectable third. He has won two of his last four events in South Africa, including last years South African Open, and is eager to triumph again.

Charl Schwartzel @ 12/1 with Stan James: Schwartzel has finished top of the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit for the past three years and requires a big performance at Leopard Creek to stay in contention for a fourth straight title. If course form is anything to go by then Schwartzel has every chance, he claimed his maiden European Tour success when he won this event at the start of the 2005 schedule and has finished runner-up in each of the last two years.