Retief Goosen tees off in the Africa Open to commence the 2012 European Tour season
The two-time US Open winner, Retief Gооsen, kicked off the 2012 European Tour season as he hit his tee shot in the curtain-raiser Africa Open, at the East London Golf Club, South Africa
“It is a great honour to be hitting the first tee shot of the season and getting The 2012 Race to Dubai underway, especially as the Africa Open is in my home country and is a tournament I have won in the past,” Goosen said.
“The Race to Dubai itself is a superb concept and is going from strength to strength every year. You only need to look at the calibre of players who have won it so far – Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer and Luke Donald – to see that, and I am sure this year’s
Race will be equally as exciting,” he added.
Goosen was European Tour’s number one player in the 2001 and 2002 seasons when he was at the peak of his career.
Whenever he entered any tournament, there was a high chance that he would come out victorious. Throughout those two years, he did not let anyone get close to him on the rankings table.
It is now a good opportunity for him to record a win in the South Africa Open at the 10th anniversary of his top position.
There is no doubt that he remains the most favourite for a win in the event. He had a stunning 2011 season and recorded one of the two major wins of his career.
There will be at least 46 tournaments played in the 2012 European Tour season. A total of 25 countries and five continents will host the events in the span of 11 months.
The final event of the Race to Dubai will be the DP World Tour Championship where 60 top golfers will contend for the $8 million purse.
At the end of the season, the top 10 players in the Race to Dubai will share the prize money of $3.75 million and the winner will hold the fourth Harry Vardon Trophy.
The previous winners of Race to Dubai title were Englishman Lee Westwood in 2009, Germany’s Martin Kaymer in 2010 and Englishman Luke Donald in 2011.
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