9-man SA charge at Open Championship

Cape Town - South Africa may have battled to field a competitive pair of golfers at this year's Olympic Games in Rio, but there will be nine South Africans competing at this week's Open Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland. 

The last time a South African won The Open was in 2012 when Ernie Els stunned the field to win his fourth major at Royal Lytham and St Annes. 

Before that, Louis Oosthuizen won in 2010 at St Andrews while Els was also victorious at Muirfield in 2002. 

You have to go back all the way to 1974 to find the last time a South African won The Open before that - Gary Player winning, also at Royal Lytham.

According to form and world rankings, Branden Grace is South Africa's best bet this year. 

Here are the South Africans in the field this week:

Branden Grace

Age - 28

Previous Opens - 5

Best finish - T20 (2015)

World ranking - 10

Louis Oosthuizen

Age - 33

Previous Opens - 9

Best finish - Winner (2010)

World ranking - 14

Charl Schwartzel

Age - 31

Previous Opens - 11

Best finish - T7 (2011)

World ranking - 21

Brandon Stone

Age - 23

Previous Opens - Debut

Best finish - N/A

World ranking - 92

George Coetzee

Age - 29

Previous Opens - 5

Best finish - 15 (2011)

World ranking - 115

Ernie Els

Age - 46

Previous Opens - 25

Best finish - Winner (2002, 2012)

World ranking - 242

Haydn Porteous

Age - 22

Previous Opens - Debut

Best finish - N/A

World ranking - 249

Zander Lombard

Age - 21

Previous Opens - Debut

Best finish - N/A

World ranking - 257

Richard Sterne

Age - 34

Previous Opens - 7

Best finish - T21 (2013)

World ranking - 328