The Limpopo Championship will feature 204 players from the European Challenge Tour and The Sunshine Tour, all bidding to start their season in ultimate style. With plenty of new faces joining the Challenge Tour in 2020, alongside some more familiar names, we take a look at three players you need to keep an eye on in South Africa.
Nicolai Højgaard
The 18-year-old made a bright start to his maiden season as a professional, finishing second behind European Ryder Cup hero Sergio Garcia at the KLM Open in September.
Watching his twin Rasmus seal his first European Tour victory at the AFRASIA BANK Mauritius Open just weeks after earning his card at European Tour Qualifying School will inevitably provide extra motivation for the Dane as he looks to follow in his brother’s footsteps.
After splitting his time between the European Tour, Challenge Tour and Nordic Golf League in 2019, the former Junior Ryder Cup player secured his first full season on the Challenge Tour at Qualifying School. The teenager has already proved he can compete with the very best and will start the season as one of the favourites to step into the winner’s circle for the first time.
Ben Stow
After narrowly missing out his European Tour card in 2019, Stow will be looking to bounce back quickly with a strong performance in South Africa. The Englishman finished 17th on the Road to Mallorca Rankings, just two spots outside the promotion spaces, amassing seven top ten results throughout the course of the Road to Mallorca season.
After three strong years on the Challenge Tour, where he has never finished the season outside the top 30 in the Rankings, Stow will be looking to make 2020 the year he ascends to the top tier of European golf.
Hurly Long
Long has been touted as one of Europe’s brightest young golfers after carding a new course record of 61 at Pebble Beach Golf Links as a college student at Texas Tech University.
The 24-year-old has continued to make an impression since joining the paid ranks, finishing his rookie season on the Pro Golf Tour top of his class to earn Challenge Tour playing privileges for 2020. He looks set to be one to watch after putting together an exceptionally consistent season on the Satellite Tour last year, with 14 top ten finishes in 20 starts, including his maiden victory at the Raiffeisen Pro Golf Tour St. Pölten.
The German will be looking to make a quick start to his season in South Africa after facing disappointment at Qualifying School, finishing just one shot short of securing his European Tour card.
