At lot of focus will be on the new crop of South African stars – Brandon Stone, Haydn Porteous, Zander Lombard and Christian Bezuidenhout.

However, in an interesting draw for the first round, the 2011 Masters champion, Charl Schwartzel, Stone and Australia’s Brett Rumford are in the pick of the morning’s groups and teed off on the 10th at 7:40.

Defending champion, George Coetzee, and the in-form Jaco van Zyl, as well as England’s Matthew Baldwin, teed it up ten minutes earlier in what promises to be another fantastic battle.

Before this morning’s round, Coetzee said he hopes to do well on his home course.

“It’s where I grew up, I won my first event here, and I mean it’s just got a lot of good memories for me. It’s my home course, all my good memories are about a bunch of club champs I won here.

“I know what to expect and hopefully (chuckles) I can expect to do well.

Coetzee, who is becoming one of the great characters of the game, was more than happy to share the secrets to a low round at the Pretoria Country Club.

“You must hit the seven iron off every tee. Make sure you two-putt, hit it in the water once or twice just to get your blood flowing (chuckles).

“No it’s definitely my secret, I’ve paid my dues there, and I’ve been a member there all my life.

Bloemfontein’s Dean Burmester takes to the tee-box at 12:10 this afternoon.

Morgan Piek/OFM News