Over the years South Africa has seen its golfers fly the flag high in one of the most famous golf events – The Open Championship.
Most golfers would probably reckon that if they could only make one choice – wearing the Green Jacket or sipping from the Claret Jug – they’d go for The Masters.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t something magical about The Open Championship. The venues are rotated, and the weather is always different, which means the challenges are unique to the tournament, year after year.
Given the size of the field at The Open – 156 – there are more South Africans teeing it up than at The Masters, which had its smallest field, at 87 golfers, earlier this year.
The 2018 Open Championship will be held at Carnoustie from 19-22 July, the eighth time the course has been used for the prestigious event.
Here we take a look through the years and pick out the South Africans who have performed best:
2017 Branden Grace – T6th
Grace shot that men’s Major record of 62 in the third round, at Royal Birkdale, which left him fifth going into Sunday’s final day. There he posted a 70, for a four-under total of 276, eight shots behind American Jordan Spieth. Ernie Els finished in a tie for 61st, with Charl Schwartzel tie-62nd along with Shaun Norris. A final-round 74 proved costly for Brandon Stone who ended tie-70th.
Missed the cut: Jbe Kruger, Dylan Frittelli, Darren Fichardt and Louis Oosthuizen
2016 Charl Schwartzel – T18th
Schwartzel went into the weekend six shots behind halfway leader Phil Mickelson after rounds of 72 and 66. However, a pair of 73s saw him slip out of the top 10 to finish on 284, some 20 shots behind Henrik Stenson’s 264 (68, 65, 68 and 63). Haydn Porteous tied for 30th on 286, along with Jordan Spieth; Richard Sterne was tie-46th, Zander Lombard tie-66th and Branden Grace tie-72nd.
Missed the cut: George Coetzee, Ernie Els, Brandon Stone and Louis Oosthuizen
2015 Louis Oosthuizen – T2nd
Oosthuizen went into a three-man playoff for the title after he, Zach Johnson and Marc Leishman finished on 273. Oosthuizen had been the leader after 54 holes before closing with a 69. Johnson won the four-hole playoff.
Retief Goosen and Branden Grace tied for 20th (Grace closed with a 67), Ernie Els was tie-65th, Charl Schwartzel tie-68th and Thomas Aiken finished 80th.
Missed the cut: George Coetzee and Jaco van Zyl
2014 Charl Schwartzel – T7th
Schwartzel had rounds of 71, 67, 72 and 67 for an 11-under 277, six shots behind winner Rory McIlroy. George Coetzee ended alone in 18th (picking up nearly R1-million) on 281, with Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen in a tie for 36th.
Missed the cut: Dawie van der Walt, Justin Walters, Ernie Els and Richard Sterne
2013 Charl Schwartzel – T15th
Schwartzel had an up and down time at Muirfield, with rounds of 75, 68, 76 and 71 for six-over 290. Phil Mickelson (three-under 281) was the only golfer to go under par for the week. Richard Sterne finished tie-21st, with Ernie Els tie-26th. Tim Clark was tie-44th, Branden Grace tie-64th and George Coetzee tie-71st.
Missed the cut: Thomas Aiken, Justin Harding and Darryn Lloyd
2012 Ernie Els – Champion
A final-round 68 saw Els come through the field to beat Adam Scott by one shot and claim his second Open title, at Royal Lytham & St Annes. He had rounds of 67, 70, 68 and 68. Thomas Aiken finished tie-seventh, six shots behind Els. Louis Oosthuizen was tie-19th, Richard Sterne tie-39th, Retief Goosen tie-64th and Branden Grace tie-77th.
Missed the cut: George Coetzee, Jbe Kruger, Charl Schwartzel, Andrew Georgiou, Trevor Immelman, Tim Clark and Grant Veenstra
2011 George Coetzee – 15th
Coetzee opened with two 69s to sit just two shots off the halfway leaders, Darren Clarke and Lucas Glover, at Royal St George’s. His weekend, though, saw him compile a 72 and 74 to end nine shots behind Clarke. Charl Schwartzel ended one shot behind Coetzee on 285 in a tie for 16th. Trevor Immelman tied for 38th, while Rory Sabbatini tied for 54th with Louis Oosthuizen.
Missed the cut: Thomas Aiken, Neil Schietekat, Martin Maritz and Ernie Els
2010 Louis Oosthuizen – Champion
Oosthuizen won at the Old Course at St Andrews with a phenomenal display of front-running. Two behind Rory McIlroy after a first-round 65, he swept into the lead with subsequent rounds of 67, 69 and 71 to finish on 272, seven shots clear of Lee Westwood. Retief Goosen finished alone in sixth on 281, with Charl Schwartzel tie-14th. Trevor Immelman was tie-23rd and Thomas Aiken tie-74th.
Missed the cut: Ernie Els, Tim Clark, Jean Hugo, Josh Cunliffe and Darren Fichardt
2009 Retief Goosen – T5th
The ‘Goose’ ended just two shots behind Stewart Cink and Tom Watson (Cink won in a playoff) at Turnberry, on 280 after rounds of 67, 70, 71 and 72. Ernie Els was a shot behind that, tied for eighth, with Thomas Aiken. James Kingston finished tie-27th, Richard Sterne tie-34th and Branden Grace tie-43rd.
Missed the cut: Tim Clark, Louis Oosthuizen, Rory Sabbatini, Charl Schwartzel and Jaco Ahlers
2008 Ernie Els – T7th
Els’ chances were hurt by an opening 80 but he rebounded to finish in the top 10 with subsequent rounds of 69, 74 and 69 for 292, nine shots behind Padraig Harrington at Royal Birkdale. Trevor Immelman finished tie-19th, Retief Goosen tie-32nd, Thomas Aiken tie-39th and David Frost tie-51st.
Missed the cut: Josh Cunliffe, James Kingston, Richard Sterne, Tim Clark, Rory Sabbatini, Hennie Otto and Darren Fichardt
2007 Ernie Els – T4th
Els produced rounds of 72, 70, 68 and 69 to close just two shots behind Padraig Harrington at Carnoustie, and pick up nearly 300 000 euros for his efforts, scant consolation to this serial winner, though. Retief Goosen finished tied for 23rd and Trevor Immelman tied for 60th.
Missed the cut: David Frost, Rory Sabbatini, Richard Sterne and Desvonde Botes
2006 Ernie Els – 3rd
Els signed off alone in third on 275, five shots behind Tiger Woods, after shooting rounds of 68, 65 and a weekend pair of 71s. Retief Goosen ended tie-14th, Charl Schwartzel tie-22nd, Rory Sabbatini tie-26th and Tim Clark tie-56th.
Missed the cut: Thomas Aiken, Louis Oosthuizen, Ross Wellington, Richard Sterne and Warren Abery
2005 Retief Goosen – T5th
Goosen (right) ended seven shots behind Tiger Woods, but only two behind runner-up Colin Montgomerie. He could have been closer but for a final-round 74. David Frost finished tie-15th along with Trevor Immelman, while Tim Clark tied for 23rd and Ernie Els tied for 34th.
Missed the cut: Charl Schwartzel and Rory Sabbatini
2004 Ernie Els – 2nd
Els was locked with Todd Hamilton on 10-under 274 before the American won the four-hole playoff. Els fired all four rounds in the 60s but it wasn’t enough for an outright win. Retief Goosen tied for seventh, Tjaart van der Walt was tie-36th, Trevor Immelman tie-42nd, James Kingston tie-57th and Rory Sabbatini tie-66th.
Missed the cut: Tim Clark, Grant Muller, Darren Fichardt, Hennie Otto and Louis Oosthuizen
2003 Retief Goosen and Hennie Otto – T10th
Goosen and Otto ended on 288, five shots behind rank outsider Ben Curtis. Ernie Els finished tie-18th on 290, with Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini tie-53rd.
Missed the cut: Charl Schwartzel
2002 Ernie Els – Champion
Els survived a four-way four-hole playoff after signing for a 278 with Stuart Appleby, Steve Elkington and Thomas Levet, to win his first Claret Jug. Retief Goosen tied for eighth, with Trevor Immelman tied for 43rd and Roger Wessels tied for 77th.
Missed the cut: Tim Clark, Darren Fichardt and James Kingston
2001 Ernie Els – T3rd
Els finished in a six-way tie for third on 278, four shots behind David Duval at Royal Lytham & St Annes. Retief Goosen was tied for 13th, two shots behind him, with Rory Sabbatini tied for 54th.
Missed the cut: Jean Hugo, Bradford Vaughan, David Frost and Gary Player
2000 Ernie Els – T2nd
Els closed with a 69 to sign off at the Old Course at St Andrews on a highly respectable 11-under 277 with Thomas Bjorn, but eight shots behind Tiger Woods. Retief Goosen was tie-41st, David Frost tied for 55th and Desvonde Botes tied for 64th.
Missed the cut: Nic Henning, Gary Player and Darren Fichardt
– This article first appeared in the July issue of Compleat Golfer, now on sale!
