It’s the price of being a rookie at the Open‚ and so South Africa’s Zander Lombard will tee off in the last group of the day in the first round of the 145th Open at Royal Troon this week. The famous old links is a tough test at any time and by late afternoon the prevailing north-west wind could be howling off Scotland’s wild west coast‚ making life more difficult for the late starters. But 21-year-old Lombard‚ one of nine South Africans in the field‚ won’t mind that.He has come close to qualifying for the Open before and this time he earned his spot at the world’s most famous golf tournament thanks to second at the Joburg Open in January. That tournament was one of the Open Championships’ qualifying series with the top three finishers at Royal Joburg earning their golden tickets to Troon.One of them was Joburg Open winner Haydn Porteous‚ who will also make his Open debut this week.Zika virus hazard scares Rory away from OlympicsFour-times major winner Rory McIlroy has pulled out of the historic golf tournament at the Rio Olympic Games because of health fears over the Zika virus. Lombard finished fourth on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit in 2016 and is a former runner-up at the British Amateur‚ which was held at Northern Ireland’s Royal Portrush in 2014. It suggests that he doesn’t mind links golf conditions. The 22-year-old Porteous has shown great potential this year‚ with his victory at the Joburg Open underlined.Winning his maiden European Tour tournament has opened many doors for the Modderfontein Golf Club member. He was second on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit and scored another win in the Investec Cup series in late summer. The third South African Open debutant this week is the highly talented Brandon Stone‚ who earned his entry by finishing fifth at the Open de France a few weeks ago. But the 23-year-old caught the eye much earlier this year when he won the South African Open‚ following in the footsteps of Ernie Els and Richard Sterne‚ who are both in the Troon field this year. ‘I would have given anything to play in the Olympics’ – Gary Player criticises player no-showLegendary golfer Gary Player has attacked his fellow sportsmen for pulling out of world sport’s premier showcase‚ the Olympics‚ saying they are hurting the game. Stone comes from a strong amateur background where he was named ‘freshman of the year’ on the US collegiate circuit in 2013. “The Open is the only major that is in the same time zone as South Africa‚ so growing up you watch it from round one to the end from early in the morning to late at night‚” Stone said.“It’s dear to my heart.” Stone will also be one of South Africa’s two representatives when golf makes its return to the Olympic Games in Rio next month. Stone‚ Porteous and Lombard together represented South Africa in the 2012 World Amateur Team Championships. Besides the three rookies‚ former Open champions Els (2002‚ 2012) and Louis Oosthuizen (2010) will tee it up alongside Charl Schwartzel‚ Sterne‚ Branden Grace and George Coetzee. Schwartzel‚ the 2011 Masters winner‚ arrived earlier than most at Troon to begin his preparations for the Open. Oosthuizen pulls out of SA Olympics teamLouis Oosthuizen followed fellow major winner Adam Scott in saying yesterday he will not compete at the Rio Olympics, fuelling the debate raging around golf's return to the Games after a 112-year absence. “I figured if I want to win The Open I have to find a way to play links golf better‚” Schwartzel said. “You need to adjust. The same ball flight and swings don’t necessarily work over here. I’m really looking forward to the challenge. “I came a little earlier this year and I really want to find a way‚” he said.“It reminds me a little of St Andrews‚ but it isn’t as open. When we played yesterday [Monday] it was soft‚ and I think it will play very differently if it dries up. “I’ve always been a feel player‚ so I’m trying to use a bit of my creativity. The challenge lies in that your hands get so cold that you lose feel! I have as many jerseys on as I can.” - TMG Digital..