Fuente: © Southern Africa Tour
http://www.sunshinetour.com/

SOUTHERN AFRICA TOUR: Clark 18-1 for Scottish Open

/noticias.info/ At 18-1, the pundits have stocked the odds just a little higher than expected against South Africa’s Tim Clark launching a successful title defence at this week’s Barclays Scottish Open n the European Tour.

After all, Clark did chase Phil Mickelson all the way to the winning post at the 2006 Masters and he did finish alone in second.

After all, he is ranked 17th in the world. And 17th on the European Tour. And 21st. on the PGA Tour.

And he did consolidate his passionate love affair with Loch Lomond by beating Northern Ireland’s Darren Clark and Maarten Lafeber to the altar at Scotland’s most picturesque course last year.

“Winning The 2005 Barclays Scottish Open title was one of the greatest moments of my career,” said Clark, holding the trophy aloft last year.

“The support of the crowds was awesome and I won’t forget the excitement of the final day for many years to come! It is an honour for me to defend my title this year and I am very much looking forward to returning to Loch Lomond.”

Then again, with no fewer than seven others in the top 20 on the Official World Golf Ranking in action this week on the Bonnie, Bonnie Banks to contest the £2.4 million purse, you may like the odds on Ernie Els and Retief Goosen a little better.

Leading the race to become the 11th champion since the event took up residence at Loch Lomond are the two South Africans and former winners in Retief Goosen, the World Number Four, and Ernie Els, currently ranked Number Eight.

Goosen won in 2001 while Els is the only multiple winner at Loch Lomond, having won in 2000 and 2003.

Els, at 14-1 and seeking a hat-trick of successes, has a close affinity with Loch Lomond.

“It is a very special place and The Barclays Scottish Open is a fantastic tournament - as twice crowned champion it holds great memories for me and I always look forward to playing,” he said.

“It is a wonderful golf course and a wonderful week, and not only for me, but also for my family who always thoroughly enjoy their time at Loch Lomond.”

Goosen tops the charts at 16-1, tied with England’s David Howell, the current European Tour Order of Merit leader and tenth in the world.

The others to watch are England’s Luke Donald (12th), Scotland’s Colin Montgomerie (13th) and Spain’s José Maria Olazábal (14th).

And as for the rest of the Southern Africans in the mix, why not back one of them to lift the trophy come Sunday? Charl Schwartzel is back from the USA in time to warm up for The Open at Hoylake. Also getting ready for Royal Liverpool are debutants Warren Abery and Richard Sterne, as well as Louis Oosthuizen.

And to complete the local line-up, are Michael Kirk, Darren Fichardt, James Kingston, Andrew McLardy and Zimbabwe's Marc Cayeux.

PGA TOUR
Michelle Wie returns to TPC Deere Run feeling better about her game and hoping to earn a place in PGA TOUR history by making that elusive cut at the John Deere Classic.

The lone South African teeing it up this week at the TPC Deere Run is Tjaart van der Walt.

CHALLENGE TOUR
James Kamte hopes that this week’s Texbond Open might be the one carry him to a maiden Challenge Tour success. Martin Maritz, Michiel Bothma and young Matthew Kent, taking advantage of his return to form to bag some Euro’s this week, join Kamte at the Gardagolf in Brescia, Italy.

CANADIAN TOUR
After an off-week, its back to business as the Canadian Tour sets up shop in Winnipeg for the MTS Classic. Chasing the $150,000 purse at historic Pine Ridge GC will be 156 golfers from more than a dozen countries, including Alan McLean and Christo Greyling.

NATIONWIDE TOUR
The Nationwide Tour travel to the Somerby Golf Club in Byron, Minnesota for the Scholarship America Showdown, where Brenden Pappas, Jaco van Zyl, Deane Pappas, Brendon de Jonge and Trevor Dodds will compete for the $99,000 winner’s share of the $550,000 purse. notas_de_prensa_archivo