Hot Sterne eyes hat-trick

Sterne celebrates with his girlfriend after winning the South African Open

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Home favourite Richard Sterne will aim to become only the third man in history to win three consecutive European Tour events at this week's Joburg Open.

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Playing not far from his Pretoria home, Sterne will bid to join two of golf's greatest names, Nick Faldo and Severiano Ballesteros, by achieving that remarkable feat.

The 27-year-old South African certainly knows what it takes to win at this week's venue - the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club - as he returns to the event as the defending champion.

Last year Sterne fired a memorable final round of 65 to force himself into a play-off with Sweden's Magnus A Carlsson and fellow South African Garth Mulroy, before emerging victorious at the second extra hole.

A repeat performance would see his name go up in lights, with Ballesteros the last man to win three successive tournaments back in 1986 when he claimed back-to-back victories at the Irish Open, the Monte Carlo Open and the Open de France.

Sterne's two previous triumphs both also came on home soil at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the South African Open Championship.

Now up to number 43 in the world, he heads to Johannesburg full confidence and, with the home galleries sure to be cheering his every move, unsurprisingly starts the week as joint-favourite to complete a memorable hat-trick.

Strange

"Golf is strange, you win a tournament and you back it up with another one," stated Sterne. "I've enjoyed what I've done in the last few weeks.

"I've been struggling with some back problems- the physios did a great job at Pearl Valley and kept me going.

"It was my goal to be in the top 50 at the end of the year. I had a horrible summer. I struggled with a few things and now I've come back strong from that."

Goosen joint favourite

Sharing favouritism heading into the event is Sterne's compatriot Retief Goosen, who showed signs of running into form himself by finishing sixth at the South African Open.

The two-time major winner is undoubtedly the biggest name in a largely mediocre field and will fancy his chances of securing a 15th European Tour title.

Charl Schwartzel is another South African who will expect to go well, as will the likes of Anton Haig, James Kingston, Louis Oosthuizen.

The European challenge seems likely to be lead by Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin, although English youngsters Danny Willett and Chris Wood will both be looking for strong starts to the year after coming through qualifying school.