This week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship has been a mainstay in South Africa since 2000 with Rupert’s businesses not only sponsoring the event but owning the course where it is played, Leopard Creek Country Club.

The event always attracts a strong local field with many of the biggest names in South African golf playing as a mark of respect to Rupert.

DEFENDING CHAMPION: 2021 was a disaster for the tournament when it was cancelled just two weeks prior to its scheduled date because of Covid travel restrictions.

That means 2020 winner Christiaan Bezuidenhout will officially be defending after his four stroke win two years ago.

Bezuidenhout started the final round three shots behind last week’s Australian Open winner Adrian Meronk, but the Polish player struggled and Bezuidenhout shone with one of the best rounds of the day, a three-under 69 to outlast Meronk, Richard Bland, Sean Crocker and Jaydn Schaper.

COURSE: The Leopard Creek Country Club is a Gary Player design rated among the best in South Africa.

It borders the Kruger National Park and anybody who has watched the coverage will be familiar with the remarkable wildlife shots that pepper the coverage.

RIGHT: Christiaan Bezuidenhout will finally get the chance to defend his title this week. PHOTO: Warren Little/Getty Images.

While an exclusive and private facility, the property is accessible to those staying at select nearby game lodges and paying a significant green fee.

The course itself seems a tougher test these days following a major renovation in 2017.

Winning scores between 2005 and 2016 ranged between 11-under-par and 24-under par but 14-under is the best score in the three events since the works were completed.

A change in grasses on both fairways and greens likely accounts for some of the change but the movement of several fairway bunkers and the reshaping of several holes has likely contributed more.

The par-5 13th gets the bulk of the attention at Leopard Creek with its clear influence from the 13th at Augusta National.

While both are sweeping right to left three shotters with water along the left, Leopard Creek lacks the dramatic terrain of Augusta and the green complexes are worlds apart.

The views from the putting surface at Leopard Creek are directly into the Kruger National Park and it’s not uncommon for those playing the course to stop for several minutes and simply admire the vista (not during the tournament though).

With three par-5s on the back nine there is lots of opportunity for the lead to change hands if the tournament is close and 13 is often a pivotal hole.

PRIZEMONEY: EUR1,500,000

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Many of South Africa’s best known players make the effort to tee up here out of respect for the tournament host and while they may not be contenders come Sunday it adds prestige to the tournament.

Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel are both previous winners, Els in 2005 and Schwartzel four time between 2004 and 2015.

Both are in the field again this week though it would be a surprise if Els was at the pointy end of the leaderboard come Sunday.

Schwartzel was top-10 last week in the national Open so isn’t without a chance, especially as a four-time previous winner.

Among those who might not attract a lot of attention but will be worth watching is Spain’s Alejandro Canizares.

Two solid weeks in Australia saw him finish T12 at Royal Queensland before storming home in 64 to grab a share of fourth place at Victoria GC.

As always, though, it will be the home players that are hard to beat. South Africans have won 10 of the 20 tournaments staged to date and there is no shortage of good players to threaten this week.

Dean Burmester was fifth last week in the South African Open and will be confident heading into the week as will Hennie Du Plessis who was T9.

Add in Wilco Nienaber, Daniel van Tonder, last week’s winner Thriston Lawrence and Branden Grace and it’s not hard to see why the locals are hard to beat.

72-HOLE RECORD: 264 (-24, Charl Schwartzel, 2012)

PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: Adam Scott (2001)

AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Harvey Young (a).

TV TIMES*
Round 1: Thursday (Fox Sports 505 9pm – 2am)
Round 2: Friday (Fox Sports 505 9pm – 2am)
Round 3: Saturday (Fox Sports 505 9pm – 1.30am)
Round 4: Sunday (Fox Sports 505 9pm – 1.30am)
*AEDT, check local guides