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Dowerglen - Former world No 1 David Duval will be hunting his 20th professional title in his first appearance in the 103rd South African Open Championship at Glendower from November 21-24, 2013.
The inclusion of 2001 Open champion Duval is another huge boost for the world’s second oldest Open, as the American - along with 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and two-time US champion Retief Goosen - completes a trio of Major champions lining up in the first counting event on The 2014 European Tour International Schedule.
With defending champion and world number four Henrik Stenson, European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley and South Africa’s leading lights also on the bill, local golf supporters can celebrate a truly explosive start to the Sunshine Tour’s summer.
Ranked first in the world at the height of his career, Duval slipped down the world rankings during a decade blighted by injury, but the 41-year-old came close to a breakthrough at the US Open in 2009. Duval believes it will take just one great week to get back to his winning ways.
“I’ve never given up on winning again because I believe in what I do,” said Duval. “I know I can come back because I believe in myself, as a person and a golfer.
“Everything just needs to fall into place. I’m just looking for that spark.”
The 13-time PGA Tour winner will be looking for that spark on the popular fairways of Glendower in the company of Stenson and Schwartzel.
“The SA Open has been good to a lot of great golfers over the years,” the Jacksonville native said.
“Vijay (Singh) won the PGA after winning the SA Open and Ernie won his second Open after winning at home. Henrik won it last year and proved how one tournament can boost your confidence and get you back on track.
“I don’t know, maybe it is something in the water down there, but whatever it is, I’m coming to get me some, too.”
The American is also looking forward to sampling the sunny weather and crowd support in South Africa.
“I competed in the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City in 1998 and it was an amazing experience,” he said. “The crowds were absolutely fantastic. The South Africans really love their golf and they gave everyone in the field support; that’s rare when you travel to another country and something that I look forward to in my second visit to the country.”
The inclusion of 2001 Open champion Duval is another huge boost for the world’s second oldest Open, as the American - along with 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and two-time US champion Retief Goosen - completes a trio of Major champions lining up in the first counting event on The 2014 European Tour International Schedule.
With defending champion and world number four Henrik Stenson, European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley and South Africa’s leading lights also on the bill, local golf supporters can celebrate a truly explosive start to the Sunshine Tour’s summer.
Ranked first in the world at the height of his career, Duval slipped down the world rankings during a decade blighted by injury, but the 41-year-old came close to a breakthrough at the US Open in 2009. Duval believes it will take just one great week to get back to his winning ways.
“I’ve never given up on winning again because I believe in what I do,” said Duval. “I know I can come back because I believe in myself, as a person and a golfer.
“Everything just needs to fall into place. I’m just looking for that spark.”
The 13-time PGA Tour winner will be looking for that spark on the popular fairways of Glendower in the company of Stenson and Schwartzel.
“The SA Open has been good to a lot of great golfers over the years,” the Jacksonville native said.
“Vijay (Singh) won the PGA after winning the SA Open and Ernie won his second Open after winning at home. Henrik won it last year and proved how one tournament can boost your confidence and get you back on track.
“I don’t know, maybe it is something in the water down there, but whatever it is, I’m coming to get me some, too.”
The American is also looking forward to sampling the sunny weather and crowd support in South Africa.
“I competed in the Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City in 1998 and it was an amazing experience,” he said. “The crowds were absolutely fantastic. The South Africans really love their golf and they gave everyone in the field support; that’s rare when you travel to another country and something that I look forward to in my second visit to the country.”
