Joburg Open 2022: Preview, betting tips & how to watch

Thought the DP World Tour was finished for the year? Not quite.

The DP World Tour Championship might have marked the end of the 2022 season, but there’s still golf to be played this side of the new year.

The tour is in South Africa for the Joburg Open, an event which has plenty local talent in the field. They’re joined, mostly, by those who never made it to the season-closer in Dubai last week. It’s also the start of a new Race to Dubai season.

The South African contingent have generally performed well here in the past, with Thriston Lawrence (defending champ), Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace among those who have won in the past.

This week is particularly important, however, as it is the start of the Open Qualifying Series. The top three players at the end of the week who aren’t already exempt will book a spot in the 151st Open at Royal Liverpool. For the Scots in the field – Marc Warren, David Drysdale, Craig Howie – it’s an enticing prospect. 

The tournament has been on the circuit since 2007, but wasn’t played in 2018 or 2019. Last year, it was shortened to 36-holes due to bad weather and COVID-19.

It’s a new venue for the championship for 2022, being held at Houghton Golf Club for the first time. In the past, Randpark was the host course.

Let’s take a look at all the details ahead of the week.

Joburg Open 2022 details

Course: Houghton, Johannesburg

Course stats: 7,153 yards, par 72

Defending champion: Thriston Lawrence

Purse: $850,000

Joburg Open 2022 betting tips

Here’s who the bookies fancy this week…

Christiaan Bezuidenhout 17/2

George Coetzee 14/1

Thriston Lawrence 18/1

Oliver Bekker 22/1

Romain Langasque 30/1

Louis De Jager 30/1

Zander Lombard 33/1

Hennie du Plessis 33/1

Wilco Nienaber 35/1

Darius van Driel 45/1

The bunkered Bet 

George Coetzee 14/1

A past winner of the event, Coetzee is one of the home favourites this week. Although Bezuidenhout is the favourite, if you want value in a top player, Coetzee is the way to go.

Joburg Open how to watch

Here’s how you can tune in to the coverage of the Joburg Open

Thursday: Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf: 10am

Friday: Sky Sports Golf: 10am, Sky Sports Main Event: 11.15am

Saturday: Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Golf: 10am

Sunday: Sky Sports Golf: 10am, Sky Sports Main Event: 11.30am

Follow bunkered on social media

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube