Big 4 back for the SAA Open

rnie Els, Retief Goosen, Tim Clark and
Trevor Immelman have all confirmed their participation in the €1 million
South African Airways Open Championship that is set to be one of the most
historic in its illustrious history.

It was confirmed at the official launch of the Championship that South
Africa’s leading professional golfers will from December 14-17 2006 herald
the return of the game’s oldest national Open to one of the most storied
layouts in golf, with Humewood Golf Club also celebrating its 75th
anniversary this year.

Last year’s event produced one of the closest finishes in its history when
Goosen birdied the final two holes to win his second national Open after a
dramatic final round battle with Els at The Links at Fancourt.

This will be the fifth occasion that Humewood Golf Club hosts the country’s
national Open, the last being in 1957.

The Championship is also considered to be returning to its roots, with it
first being played in Port Elizabeth in 1893. It was from these beginnings
that it grew into the premier event it is today, co-sanctioned by both the
European Tour and Sunshine Tour and featuring the cream of the world’s
players.

"The South African Golf Association (SAGA) is very proud to be able to stage
our national Open once more at Humewood Golf Club, recognised worldwide as
one of the better genuine links courses,” said Neels Steyn, President of the
SAGA, the custodians of the Championship.

”The combined effort of the Sunshine Tour and the European Tour, together
with the title sponsor, South African Airways, is greatly appreciated by all
golfers in South Africa and we look forward to bringing top calibre
professional golf back to the Eastern Cape."

History will also be made in that this marks the first time the Championship
has been played on two links courses in consecutive years, moving from The
Links at Fancourt to Humewood, the only natural links course in South
Africa.

Several changes have been made to a layout expected to provide a stern test
for the world’s finest professionals, including the lengthening of the
course to the over 7 000-yard standard of all British Opens.

“We’ve added five new tees to lengthen it to over 7 000 yards, and we’ve
added six new bunkers. We’ve grown in the fairways a bit and we’re not
cutting the rough, and the wind in December will make it a very good
challenge,” said Keith Simpson, President of Humewood Golf Club.