The European Tour resumes with the second staging of the Joburg Open in South Africa's largest city.
Live coverage of the Joburg Open starts on Thursday at 10.30am on SS1
The European Tour resumes following a four-week break for Christmas and New Year, with the second staging of the Joburg Open in South Africa's largest city.
European Tour stats
The 73-year-old Royal Johannesburg and Kensington course is a reasonably undulating, parkland venue with kikuya fairways and bent grass greens.
However, the field for this week's seventh event of the European season is hardly star-studded.
The biggest-name teeing-up is Darren Clarke whose form, not unexpectedly, has taken a tumble during the past 18 months.
The 39-year-old Ulsterman is no longer a member of the world's top 200 and he begins the year hoping to re-focus on his golf career following the tragic death of his wife Heather in August 2006.
It would be hugely popular if Clarke went on to win this week. In the final event of 2007, Clarke showed glimpses of his old self by finishing in a tie for third at the South African Open on the Western Cape.
Those worth keeping an eye on this week:
Ariel Canete: The defending champion whose form has been fairly average since his shock triumph 12 months ago.
Raphael Jacquelin: Hasn't played in South Africa for around four years, yet his most recent two appearances there have yielded top-five finishes.
James Kingston: Full of confidence again - following a lean spell - thanks to his South African Open success just before Christmas.
Louis Oosthuizen: Tied third in last month's South African Open.
Charl Schwartzel: Time for one of South Africa's brightest hopes to re-ignite his talent after a moderate 2007 by his standards.
Richard Sterne: Currently inside the world's top 50 which is a rarity for those teeing-up this week. Is usually a fairly consistent performer in his homeland.
