Joburg Open - Six to watch

Sterne: defending champion

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For a third straight year the Joburg Open returns to Royal Johannesburg and Kensington, as the European Tour resumes following its short Christmas and New Year break.

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Staged over two courses - the West & East - the venue is typically parkland in nature, with plenty of water hazards and trees.

The 73-year-old club is also set at high altitude, meaning the ball will travel around 10% further than normal.

Man of the moment is defending champion Richard Sterne who tees-up this week chasing a third straight Tour victory.

Before Chrirstmas, the 27-year-old won back-to-back titles in the Alfred Dunhill Championship and South African Open.

And his success in his own national open also brought his number of professional tournament wins on home soil to five.

So which other players will fancy their chances in what is a fairly mediocre field?

Ariel Canete: The Argentine was winner here in 2007 and also posted a top-ten finish in last year's tournament.

Retief Goosen: Makes a rare appearance in a tournament of this average stature but can not be overlooked.

Raphael Jacquelin: The talented Frenchman should really win more often than he does and has the class to go well in this company.

Andrew McLardy: The journeyman pro from South Africa was runner-up at this event in 2007 and in such a mediocre field could well find his moment of glory may finally arrive this week.

Mark Murless: The only player to post top-five finishes in each of the last two stagings of the Joburg Open.

Charl Schwartzel: Always a threat on home soil, although his form over the Royal courses is fairly average by his standards.