South Africa will have a strong presence, including most recent winner Dean Burmester, when the European Tour returns this week at the Trophee Hassan II in Morocco where Jeunghun Wang will defend his title.
The course
Royal Golf Dar Es Salam was commissioned by King Hassan II, was designed by Robert Trent Jones, and is 15 minutes south of Rabat.
It is regarded as one of the top golf courses in Africa, and the Red Course is the toughest and most highly-regarded of the three lay-outs on site, spanning a massive 7615 yards with a par of 73. Water is in play on several holes, including the signature par 3 ninth, which features a lily pond, complete with flamingos, and a green surrounded by picturesque shrubbery and trees.
‘This week’s course in Morocco is one of the toughest we play all year. I shot two over last year and finished in the top 15. It’s unbelievable, though, and has some of the best par threes in the world,’ says Dean Burmester.
The field
Several former Ryder Cup players have made the trip to Morocco this week, with Jamie Donaldson, Stephen Gallacher, Victor Dubuisson and Nicolas Colsaerts all in the field along with Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn. Five-time winner Joost Luiten, former Masters Champion Mike Weir and last year’s Challenge Tour Number One Jordan Smith will all peg it up with the hope of securing an early title on tour.
South Africans in the field
Burmester enters the week as the most recent winner, following his triumph at the Tshwane Open and he will be joined by no fewer than 10 countrymen.
First round tee times:
Defending champ
Jeunghun Wang will launch his defence of the Trophee Hassan II title, an event which served a springboard for the Korean’s career. His 2016 victory at the Royal Golf Dar Es Salam kick-started a run of three wins in the space of eight months,
Wang’s 2016 breakthrough came on the third playoff hole as he saw off Spain’s Nacho Elvira after holing 88 feet worth of putts on the 18th green across regulation play and the sudden-death shootout.
Past winners
2011 winner David Horsey and Erik Compton, who won this event before it joined the European Tour schedule in 2005, are both in the field this week. Former winners include Vijay Singh (1991), Payne Stewart (1992, 93), Nick Price (1995), David Toms (1999), Padraig Harrington (2007) and Ernie Els (2008).
Three to watch
In terms of world rankings, three South Africans are in the top five in the field this week – Brandon Stone, Richard Sterne and Dean Burmester, and with more than 10 players from SA in Morocco it could be the boost required to see one of them lift the trophy on Sunday. If one among Stone, Sterne and Burmester are to prevail, then they must overcome the defending champion Wang, and second highest ranked Joost Luiten.
Wildcard
Matteo Manassero has drifted somewhat since his days as the European Tour’s next big thing. He finished T3 at the brutal Hero Indian Open and could be in for a big week if he continues to make birdies, and stems the flow of bogeys that have hampered his good scoring in recent years.
