The City of Johannesburg’s sporting flagship returns to the fairways in a shootout that carries increased prize money for winners.
The 2020 Joburg Open, boasting a prize fund of R19.5 million, tees off on Thursday, 19 November 2020, and runs until Sunday, 22 November 2020, at Randpark Golf Club.
South Africa’s George Coetzee will attempt to emulate the achievements of his countrymen – Charl Schwartzel and Richard Sterne – who both won the tournament twice. George Coetzee has confirmed he will play in all three of the upcoming Sunshine Tour and European Tour co-sanctioned tournaments, starting with a return to the Joburg Open, which was the first of the five European Tour titles he has won.
The tournament will start with the Pro-Am on Tuesday, 17 November 2020. However, this year’s edition will be without the tournament’s VIP spectator guest, the late Rivonia trialist Ntate Andrew Mlangeni, who was a former parliamentarian, a freeman of the City of Johannesburg and a lifetime member of the Soweto Country Club.
The Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Cllr Geoffrey Makhubo, says this year’s tournament, coming as it does when the City and the rest of the world are emerging from the throes of the Covid-19 pandemic, marks the City’s readiness to open for business, tourism and breathing life back into the economy that has been ravaged by the virus.
“We owe it to the memory of stalwarts like Ntate Mlangeni to ensure that this tournament is a great success not only from a sporting point of view, but also as a catalyst for the positive social change in favour of the poor and the marginalised he spent his life fighting for,” says Mayor Makhubo
He adds that the 2020 Joburg Open presents an opportunity to create new job opportunities for the community as there will be some South African caddies at this tournament.
“While we recognise that Covid-19 remains a threat to lives and livelihoods, our adherence to lockdown regulations and protocols as well as stringent conditions set out by the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa for non-contact sports to resume is not negotiable,” says Mayor Makhubo.
City of Johannesburg’s Director of Events, Bongi Mokaba, says the City is looking forward to a successful tournament. She says to ensure that the City minimises the exposure to Covid-19 and adheres to the current requirements of the National State of Disaster Regulations and Directives, no spectators will be allowed at the tournament.
She says professional golfers, caddies and tournament staff who arrive into the country must produce covid-19 results not older than 72 hours as per government regulations. This will also apply to all guests playing the Pro-Am, and everybody at the tournament including professional golfers, caddies and tournament staff will be tested on site.
“Due to Covid-19 health and safety protocols for non-contact sports, the tournament will see the bio-bubble system being created for players, caddies, tournament staff and media.
“The bio-bubble system safety guidelines have been considered in terms of global best practice and South African legislation in implementing prevention measures against Covid-19 exposure to ensure the safety of all participants in the tournament,” she concludes.
Written by Luyanda Lunika
