European Tour: South African Open Power Rankings

By Matt Coles | Jan 7, 2020

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 09: Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa kisses the trophy after victory in the final round on day four of the South African Open at Randpark Golf Club on December 9, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images) /

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DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – NOVEMBER 22: Erik Van Rooyen plays his second shot on the 3rd hole during Day Two of the DP World Tour Championship Dubai at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 22, 2019 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

The second South African on our list is one that had a breakthrough season on the European Tour in 2019, including his first victory, Erik van Rooyen.

He took that win at the Scandinavian Invitation in August, and it helped him make his move into the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time.

The World No.48 ended the 2019 campaign inside the top ten in the Race to Dubai standings, taking 10th spot from Robert MacIntyre by just a handful of points.

He did so thanks to several quality performances, including a runners-up finish at the Turkish Airlines Open, one of the run-in Rolex Series events to end the campaign.

He also finished inside the top ten at the PGA Championship, his best finish in a major, as well as top-ten finishes at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, Hero Indian Open, Trophy Hassan II, D+D Real Czech Masters and the Italian Open, another Rolex tournament.

Van Rooyen will be making his first appearance of the season in South Africa, having taken a prolonged six-week break following the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, the 2019 season’s final hoorah.

The South African will be cheered on by the home crowd at Randpark, and he will be hoping to have a big week, especially with it being his first event of the new season.

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