Serengeti will test the best

The player who copes best with Serengeti's unforgiving rough and undulating greens is likely to be crowned champion in this year's SA Open.

Some of the leading lights in this year's event are in agreement about the potential source of frustration of the course on Johannesburg's eastern limits.

"The rough is quite thick," observed Charl Schwartzel, last year's Masters champion.

"You have to be careful. Even if you are coming in with a sand wedge, you are not going to get it close. You have to hit the fairways.

"The greens are pretty severe. Augusta has big gradual slopes, these have knobs. You need to hit it in the right spot and you need to know where to miss it if you are going to miss it. You can look like a fool very quickly on these greens."

"I think it is tougher than last year," said Brendan Grace, whose five top 10 finishes on the European Tour this year included four wins.

"The rough is up. When the greens are firmer on the opening day then it is going to be a difficult test. The greens are tricky but it will be a nice test."

Former world No1 German Martin Kaymer concurred with Schwartzel.

"You have to stay on the fairway and you cannot be aggressive. From the rough you can't get any spin. There is a lot of sand on the greens which kills the spin a bit. Hitting the fairways will be key," he said.

Kaymer, who hits the ball vast distances off the tee, believes strength will be negated at Serengeti.

Grace has a slightly different take.

"I think it will favour the longer hitters," said Grace.

"If you are long and straight then it is to your advantage. There are some holes where you can't be overconfident."

This year has been a dream from which Grace has no desire to wake up any time soon.

An invitation to the Nedbank Challenge would have been the proverbial cherry, though.

"The year just seemed to get better and better," he said.

"I was a little disappointed [for] not making it this year. [But] with all I've achieved this year I could not have asked for more. If I can win the [Sunshine Tour] Order of Merit then I'd be really chuffed."

After his stellar performances last year, a back injury has set Schwartzel back.

"I haven't had the best of times [in] the last couple of months. It feels good now but by coming back earlier I've developed a few bad habits in my swing. It has put me back and I haven't been playing that well," Schwartzel said.

"I haven't been able to put four good rounds together. It has not been a great year - but it is not over yet."