DID YOU KNOW – AFRICA OPEN
· The Africa Open has witnessed a lot of low scoring in the five years the event has been part of The European Tour. Charl Schwartzel won in 2010 with a 20 under total and Louis Oosthuizen with -16 in 2011 and -27 in 2012. Darren Fichardt’s winning mark in 2013 was 16 under par in 2013 and minus 20 for Thomas Aiken in 2014.
· In 2014 the cut in the Africa Open was 137 (-5). If preferred lies had not been in operation, it would be have been the lowest cut in European Tour history.
· When Thomas Aiken beat Oliver Fisher in a play-off 12 months ago his wife Kate caddied for him. This was the first time a player had won on The European Tour with his wife on the bag, since Chris DiMarco at the 2006 Abu Dhabi Golf Championship.
· Every year the Africa Open has been part of The European Tour, a South African has triumphed. Here are the winners: 2010: Charl Schwartzel, 2011-12: Louis Oosthuizen, 2013: Daren Fichardt and 2014: Thomas Aiken.
· Should a South African win again in 2015, it would represent only the second official European Tour event that the country has won for six consecutive years. The South African Open Championship was the first tournament this feat was achieved. The years were: 2002 (Tim Clark), 2003-04 (Trevor Immelman), 2005 Tim Clark and Retief Goosen in 2006. (South African players went onto win the South African Open Championship for a further four consecutive years, with Ernie Els in 2007 and James Kingston in 2008 and Richard Sterne in 2009).
