The 106th edition of the BMW SA Open gets underway this week in South Africa and tournament host Ernie Els has done a remarkable job this year putting a better field together that includes World No. 3 Rory McIlroy +300. The Welshman is making good on a promise to the tournament’s player-host Ernie Els, returning the favor after the South African played in the 2015 Irish Open which was hosted by McIlroy’s Foundation.
“I can’t wait to come back to play in South Africa – it’s been awhile since I was there;” said McIlroy, who hasn’t teed it up in South Africa since 2008. “Ernie’s done such a great job of assembling a great field. Obviously we’re also there to support a great cause in Els for Autism.”
Other notable players include Andy Sullivan +1450, defending champion Brandon Stone +1250, Thomas Aiken +2000, Peter Uihlein +4550 and rookie Thomas Detry +7000.
The Course: Glendower Golf Club
This week’s South African Open will once again be played at Glendower Golf Club. The layout measures 7,564-yards and plays to a par 72. The track features kikuyu grass fairways and has water on 11 holes. The course is long but we must remember that the course is set 5,000 feet above sea level so the ball will really fly. This is the seventh time that Glendower has hosted the event.
TV COVERAGE: GOLF Channel
BMW SA Open Golf Odds courtesy of BookMaker Sportsbook:
Rory McIlroy +300
Brandon Stone +1250
Andy Sullivan +1450
Thomas Aiken +2000
Richard Bland +2250
Jaco Van Zyl +3300
David Horsey +3550
George Coetzee +4000
Christiaan Bezuidenhout +4400
Peter Uihlein +4550
Retief Goosen +5000
Dylan Frittelli +5500
Ernie Els +6000
Lucas Bjerregaard +6666
Romain Langasque +6850
Thomas Detry +7000
Bernd Ritthammer +7110
Dean Burmester +7550
Eddie Pepperell +7777
Jaco Ahlers +8000
James Morrison +8100
Jbe Kruger +8250
Jordan L. Smith +8500
Justin Walters +8750
Keith Horne +8888
Mikko Korhonen +9000
Paul Waring +9050
Trevor Fisher, Jr. +9500
Zander Lombard +9550
Tom Lewis +9750
Brett Rumford +9999
Jamie Donaldson +10000
Matthew Southgate +10001
Marcel Siem +11100
Oliver Fisher +11111
Haydn Porteous +12500
Edoardo Molinari +13000
FIELD - Any Other Player +475
ANALYSIS
CHALK: Rory McIlroy +300 is the heavy betting favorite and really no one in the field can challenge the No. 3 ranked player in the world, that is, if he stays upright and plays average golf. Normally I stay away from the chalk, but this week, the field is so weak at the top, that I have to put a few bucks on the favored McIlroy.
LONG SHOT: Thomas Detry +7000 is making just his fourth start on the European Tour but the former All-American at the University of Illinois already has a top five finish and is looking for more. By the way his top five finish was a third place at the Alfred Dunhill Championship also played in South Africa. Good vibes and great talent propel Detry to another strong finish.
FLIER: There’s no place like home for South African Jaco Van Zyl +3300. He has won 13 times in South Africa on the Sunshine Tour but is still searching for his first European Tour win.
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Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker sportsbook. The BMW SA Open is scheduled for January 12-15, 2016. The Golf Channel will televise it live.
