Spain’s Jose Maria Olazabal tees up in this week’s inaugural co-sanctioned Tshwane Open in South Africa lamenting the sad state of big-time golf in his homeland.
The double Masters winning Olazabal is joined by fellow Major winners, US Open champion, Michael Campbell and past British Open champion, Darren Clarke competing on the Copperleaf Golf and Country Club course at Centurion.
The Euro 1.5m event, co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour, is the sixth South Africa event from 10 tournaments to be staged on this year’s 2013 European Race to Dubai schedule.
Jose Maria Olazabal competing in South Africa for a second time this year but lamenting the state of golf in Spain.
And the strength South African golf has been reflected with South African-born players having won four of the nine completed already.
Two years ago Spain boasted seven events but this year will host just one, the Spanish Open in Seville.
And Olazabal, who competed in January’s Volvo Champions in Durban, admits Spain is now struggling to match South African in producing a newer brigade of champions.
“The level of golf now in South Africa is way better than it is in Spain,” said Olazabal.
“For a while we had great players, but we are struggling to see the new generation coming up.
“In South Africa there is the Schwartzels and Oosthuizens and a lot of other great players, and in a way I envy that, but in a right way, obviously.
“For whatever reason South Africa is able to produce great players like Ernie (Els), Retief (Goosen) and there is a lot young guys that are doing so well at the moment.
“Also, South Africa is doing well at the moment and in Europe we are struggling and it’s nice to come to countries like this where the golf courses are so good. It’s great to be able to play competitive golf under great conditions. “
And Campbell, who has been showing signs recently of the form that helped him defeat Tiger Woods in the 2005 US Open, is just as impressed with the present state of South African golf.
“It must something in the water and it’s incredible what they’ve done over the last few years with Charl (Schwartzel), Louis (Oosthuizen), (Richard) Sterne, Branden Grace and George Coetzee,” said Campbell.
“It’s a tribute to guys like Gary Player and then to Ernie (Els) and Goose (Retief Goosen) as they’ve paved the way for these young kids.
“If they see their national heroes winning majors around the world they think ‘he’s from our country, and if he can do it, I can do it’ so it’s a real motivation for the locals to get out there and practice harder.
“And now you’ve got so many major winners and it’s fantastic.”
