Erik van Rooyen will lead 11 South Africans at this week’s Scandinavian Invitation where Henrik Stenson and Alex Noren loom large.
Stenson, who passed up the chance to compete in the FedExCup playoffs, will go in search of a first win at his home event alongside some familiar faces when the action starts on Thursday.
The Swede has finished second at this event twice under its previous guises but does not have the trophy sat next to his Claret Jug at home. He will tee off the tenth at Hills Golf & Sports Club in the company of countryman Marcus Kinhult and Ryder Cup teammate and former champion Matthew Fitzpatrick at 8am.
Another successful Swede in Robert Karlsson goes off ten minutes later and the 2008 Order of Merit winner will play the first two days with South African stars Christiaan Bezuidenhout, winner at Valderrama, and Brandon Stone.
Defending champion Paul Waring goes off the first at 1pm alongside two-time winner and home hero Alex Noren, and Van Rooyen.
The South African starts as the sixth-highest ranked player in the field according to the Official World Golf Ranking and starts in 19th place in the season-long Race to Dubai.
He finished in a credible tie for fifth last week as the search for his first win continues.
Renato Paratore – the 2017 champion – tees off the tenth alongside Saffa Dean Burmester and Alexander Levy at 7:40am.
In-form Italian Andrea Pavan will start from the first alongside Alexander Björk and Andy Sullivan at 1:10pm, ten minutes before last week’s runner-up Adri Arnaus, fellow Spaniard Adrian Otaegui and popular Englishman Andrew Johnston begin their campaigns.
For a full list of tee times, click HERE.
