Van Zyl seeks gold in Joburg Open

The European Tour wraps up its South African swing with this week's Joburg Open, with Charl Schwartzel back defending his title at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club today.

Schwartzel's victory last year sparked arguably his most successful season as a professional in which he won twice, claimed a fourth Sunshine Tour order of merit title, and finished tied 30th on his debut at the Masters and then no worse than tied 18th in the remaining three majors.

Another golfer who has shown similar form - if not similar achievements - is Jaco van Zyl. He tees up amid big expectation following his tying for fourth place in last week's Africa Open.

Van Zyl has his European Tour card for this year and is looking to the Joburg Open to maintain his good start to a season that opens up a new chapter in his life.

"This year should keep me very busy, jumping back and forth between the European Tour and Sunshine Tour," said Van Zyl.

"You want to get the year off to a good start, and there is no better place to do that than at home. I know this course very well. For the rest of the year I'll be on mostly new golf courses for me, which will put me on a bit of a back foot."

Van Zyl has set himself two goals this year: qualifying for the Dubai World Championship at the end of the season and breaking into the top 150 on the world rankings.

But he will have to deal with leaving home and the demands of playing a tour that will take him all over the world.

To this end he will be taking his family with him, including wife Jessica and sons Cameron, 3, and Oliver, five months.

"We're looking at getting some sort of base in Europe. But it's going to be very interesting travelling with the kids."

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke is also in the field this week and hoping to improve on his share of second place last year. The field also includes former champions Richard Sterne and Ariel Canete. They will play on the two courses of the east and west, and all will follow strategies similar to Van Zyl's.

"The key for this week is to get a good round in on the west course. The east is a little tougher. And you've got to expect weather delays such as rain or lightning."

But Schwartzel will be tough to beat as he attempts to join Ernie Els and Trevor Immelman as South Africans who have successfully defended titles on the European Tour.

In 25 tournaments co-sanctioned by the European and Sunshine Tours, Schwartzel has had 13 top 10 finishes, including three victories.