Alfred Dunhill Championship: Power Rankings at Leopard Creek

Before the European Tour retires for a month, the 2018 slate wraps up in South Africa for the Alfred Dunhill Championship

For the golf sickos who feel at a shortage for golf right now, just wait until next week.

Last week’s QBE Shootout concluded the silly season for the PGA Tour until it returns for 2019 and the Tournament of Champions. Web.com Tour Q School also just came and went and awaits Jan. 13 to get the 2019 season underway.

Last but not least to call it quits for the holidays is the European Tour which finds itself in South Africa this week for the Alfred Dunhill Championship (not to be confused with the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship held annually in October).

Based on Official World Golf Ranking points, this is South Africa’s flagship event with the winner earning a minimum of 32 OWGR points. The Sunshine Tour co-sanctions this event which will have a lot of South African players in the field.

The Alfred Dunhill Championship was not held last year due to course renovation at Leopard Creek Country Club in Malelane, the event’s host site since 2005.

The renovation has adjusted the course’s bunkering to come more into play for the modern pro even though the course is only 22 years old. Several greens were reshaped and tee boxes improved.

Kikuyua grass has been swapped out in favor of Bermuda grass on tee boxes, fairways and rough. Firmer and faster conditions are expected.

Champion bent grass, most common in Texas, is on the greens.

In short, it sounds like this Johann Rupert and Gary Player design should play a bit tougher from here on out. How much harder? We’ll see.

Winning scores have generally fallen in the high teens and low 20s under par, so perhaps a tally closer to 15-under will be sufficient now.

Winners around here often scramble well and keep the ball in play while avoiding the course’s numerous streams and water hazards.

Early week rain looks like it will gave way to sunshine and hot weather for tournament play.

The field this week isn’t spectacular as most big names either A) won’t play past October unless there’s a guaranteed check or B) have already called it quits for 2018. Still, its a way to get a leg up on world ranking points and reduce the layoff until the Euro Tour is back in action next for the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Jan. 16-19.

Much like last week’s Joburg Open, this week’s power rankings has a big South African feel.

This is a fun tournament to watch in that Leopard Creek is built on a wildlife preserve, so seeing some exotic African animals is always a treat on the broadcasts.

Let’s see who can become one with nature and take the title: