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It’s a busy week on the DP World tour, as action gets underway in South Africa, as well as in Australia.

Focus here is on the South African Open Championship, though, and it is a big deal to the home players and fans.

First staged in 1903, it is one of the oldest national golf championships in the world and has implications on the Open Championship, too.

The top three players at the end of the event will qualify for the major in Troon next year, so there is added incentive for players looking to add their name to the steep winners list.

Home players have done well in South Africa, particularly in recent years, winning the last five editions of the tournament.

Gary Player is the most successful in the tournament’s history, lifting the trophy on 13 occasions, while Ernie Els is a five-time champ.

There is LIV Golf representation this week, as Dean Burmester and Charl Schwartzel return to their former tour, so it could get interesting come Sunday afternoon.

Here are all the details you need to know…

• ISPS Handa Australian Open preview

• Hero World Challenge preview

Investec South African Open Championship details

Course: Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate, Johannesburg

Course Stats: Par 72, Yards 8,161

Defending Champion: Thriston Lawrence

Purse: $1,500,000

Winner’s Share: $255,000

Investec South African Open Championship betting tips

Here’s how the bookies rank the field this week…

Dean Burmester 7/1

Thriston Lawrence 14/1

Dan Bradbury 18/1

Christiaan Bezuidenhout 20/1

Zander Lombard 28/1

Ewen Ferguson 28/1

Jayden Schaper 28/1

Matti Schmid 28/1

The bunkered Bet

Ross Fisher 55/1

The Englishman was T23 here last year and that finish would have been higher had he not returned a two-over-par 74 to close out the week. One of the longest drivers on tour, Fisher also ranks among the elite in greens-in-regulation figures, so should be able to build on last year’s result. After narrowly securing his card for this season, Fisher looks to be playing with more confidence and a T12 finish in South Arica last week was promising.

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