TEEING OFF OF JOBURG EURO TOUR STARTS TODAY

10 January 2008 – Teeing off of the first event of the European Tour for 2008 begins today at the Royal Johannesburg and Kensington club.

The Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin and Ireland’s Darren Clarke are just two of the key golfers taking part in this 1.1million euro Johannesburg Open.

Commenting on his expected performance in this golfing competition, Clarke has said, “I’ve worked hard over Christmas and believe I have finally turned a corner. He continues, “Now I am looking forward to getting my year off to a fast start and putting myseld into the Ryder Cup picture. “

Some of the other better-known players include the likes of France’s Marc Farry and Francios Delamontagne, Germany’s Sven Struver and Marcel Siem, Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher, Joachim Backstrom and Patrik Sjoland, and England’s Ross McGowan.

The key South African golfers playing in this golf tournament include Charl Schwartzel, Anton Haig, and Richard Sterne, all of who had wins on the 2007 European Open.

Played over the two Royal Johannesburg and Kensington golf courses, the field of 204 is more or less segregated 50-50 between players from the South African Sunshine and European Tours.