Aberdeen’s David Law is hoping to make a positive start in his first European Tour event of 2020 when the South African Open gets under way in Johannesburg today.
The 28-year-old marked his maiden season on the European Tour with a victory at the Vic Open in Australia last March and is looking forward to teeing up in his first tournament of the new year.
Law has good memories of this week’s host venue, the Randpark Golf Club, having won the 2011 Northern Amateur Open at the course during a trip to South Africa with the Scottish Golf Union.
He said: “It is a good course and I don’t expect the scoring to be that low.
“The fairways are tight and the rough is pretty thick. It is a good test.
“I played on this course two years ago when it hosted the Joburg Open.
“It was the same format, being played over two courses (the Firethorn and the Bushwillow).
“Winning the Northern Amateur a few years ago is a good memory and it is always nice to return to a course where you have done well.
“Parts of the course have changed since then, in particular the greens, but it is really nice being back here.”
Law, one of eight Scots in this week’s field, says his target for the 2020 campaign is to make it into the final three events of the European Tour season, including the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai which would require a top-50 finish in the order of merit.
He said: “The goal would be to play in the final three events.
“In terms of performance, I’m looking to improve all aspects of my game.
“If I make small gains in all areas then it will be a successful year.”
Meanwhile, defending champion Louis Oosthuizen will be out to make home advantage count once again having swept to a six-stroke victory at Randpark Golf Club 12 months ago.
The 2010 Open champion said: “It was a tournament I was really trying to win with all the great champions on there – Ernie (Els), Retief (Goosen), (Gary) Player.
“I wanted to have my name on the trophy.
“It was nice having a big lead at the end there so I could take it all in.
“It’s always nice coming back and just playing it, defending it is very special.”
Craig Howie, Daniel Young, Marc Warren, Connor Syme, David Drysdale, Doug McGuigan and Ewen Ferguson are the other Scots in the field.
