Ross Fisher doubts Tshwane Open defence

• Englishman Fisher doubts Tshwane Open chances
• Scots Drysdale and Jamieson hoping to build on Africa Open
• Clarke and Manassero looking to end poor form

The European Tour concludes its three-week stint in South Africa with Englishman Ross Fisher looking to defend his title at the Tshwane Open.

The event, which was played for the first time in 2013 and is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour, moves to Pretoria Country Club this year after two years at Copperleaf Golf & Country Estate in Centurion.

Ross Fisher is pessimistic about his chances though due to the change of course, which he claims does not suit his game.

“It’s very different and I would prefer to be on a long golf course” – Ross Fisher

Speaking to the European Tour website, Ross Fisher said: “It’s difficult to say that the memories will come flooding back, because I have a new caddie and it’s a different golf course.

“We don’t generally play these types of golf courses. It’s very different and I would prefer to be on a long golf course that’s quite tight, because driving is my strength.”

Englishman David Horsey, however, admitted he is likes the look of the course and can’t wait to get underway.

He tweeted:

Five Scots take to the field, with the highest-ranked of those, world No.114 Richie Ramsay, hoping to respond after missing the cut at last week’s Africa Open, continuing what has been a poor start to 2015 for the Edinburgh-based player.

David Drysdale and Scott Jamieson will be keen to build on promising showings last week. Drysdale finished T24, while Jamieson made his fifth cut in six events in 2015 and recorded his highest finish of T18.

The other Scots in the field are Chris Doak and Craig Lee, who also both made the cut at the Africa Open but ended up well down the field in T67 and T45 respectively.

Selected groups (local times)

8.00am – Darren Clarke, Trevor Fisher Jnr, Andy Sullivan

European Ryder Cup captain Clarke is desperate for some form after a torrid start to 2015. The 2011 Open champion has shot only one sub-70 round in ten on the European Tour this year, making only one cut in the process last week. He tees off with Africa Open champion Fisher Jnr and Sullivan, who has won two events on the European Tour already this season and is ninth in the Race to Dubai standings.

12.10pm – Jbe Kruger, Eduardo De La Riva, Matteo Manassero

Manassero returns to the European Tour after a month off following four missed cuts in January and early February. He’s grouped with Spaniard De La Riva, who finished third in last week’s Africa Open, and home player Kruger.

 12.40pm – George Coetzee, Ross Fisher, Jacques Blaauw

Defending champion Ross Fisher heads into the competition in decent form, having made the cut in each of the four events he has played this year. He finished a respectable T23 at last week’s WGC-Cadillac Championship, made all the more after shooting 78 in the opening round. Ross Fisher tees off with home pair Coetzee, who will be appearing at this year’s Open Championship and Blaauw, who was seventh at the Joburg Open.

Ross Fisher to defend Tshwane Open :: Your thoughts

Can Englishman Ross Fisher defend the title he won in Centurion last year? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.