Jonsson Workwear Open 2024 Tips: Six longshots for Glendower

The DP World Tour lives up to its name, with another tour event in South Africa. Golf expert Jamie Worsley is back with his Jonsson Workwear Open preview, as well as six more each-way predictions ranging from 35/1 to 100/1. 

After Jordan Gumberg recorded a surprise victory in last week’s SDC Championship at St Francis Links – defeating the satisfyingly-named Robin Tiger Williams in a playoff, after Williams relinquished a two-shot lead with a double bogey on the 17^th hole in Sunday’s final round – the DP World Tour’s mini detour to South Africa moves on to the familiar surrounds of Glendower Golf Club this week, for the Jonsson Workwear Open.

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

The Jonsson Workwear Open was first staged in 2022 as a co-sanctioned event between the Sunshine Tour and European Challenge Tour at Durban Country Club; an event won by South Africa’s JC Ritchie.

The event was upgraded in status last year to the DP World Tour, where we saw young German, Nick Bachem win for the first time on tour at Steyn City, getting the better of home duo Zander Lombard and Hennie Du Plessis by four strokes. He returns to defend this week at our new host course.

THE COURSE

Glendower Golf Club was originally designed by C.H. Alison in 1935, however it has been extensively renovated over the course of its near 90-year history; most recently in 2007, as the Golf Data design company rebuilt all greens and bunkers at the venue.

This eight-time South African Open host has not been seen on the DP World Tour since Chris Paisley’s 2018 win in that event, which followed wins for Graeme Storm in 2017 (who defeated Rory McIlroy in a playoff), Brandon Stone in 2016, Andy Sullivan in 2015 and Morten Orum Madsen in 2013; averaging a winning score of -16.6 over those five renewals.

It has also hosted several Sunshine Tour events over the years, most recent of which was last year’s Fortress Invitational; won by last week’s unfortunate runner-up, Robin Williams by an impressive six strokes.

As a 7542-yard par 72, it will play to a similar length to that 2018 South African Open but it is worth noting that the two nines have been switched. Though it looks lengthy on paper, Glendower is situated at altitude of over 5000ft, meaning it will play significantly shorter in the thinner air; something closer to 7000 yards. It possesses 10x par 4s (401-509 yards), 4x par 5s (522-571 yards) and 4x par 3s (173-222 yards).

Tall trees – dense in places – frame most holes at this pristine and subtly undulating course, encroaching on the playing lines to make it feel tight. Many of these are overhanging and hug the fairways, potentially blocking out approaches into the greens if on the wrong side.

The landing areas in the fairways are rather narrow, protected by strategically-placed bunkers and gnarly kikuyu rough. It is not only important to hit them but with those potential tree troubles, a strategic approach off-the-tee is required to create better angles into the greens.

Sloping bentgrass putting surfaces are pretty slick and around average in size; some small and some large. Heavy bunkering offers some protection, though despite being quite big they aren’t overly deep and are usually simple enough to play out of.

Water is a prominent feature throughout the course, in-play on eleven holes in total and especially prevalent on the front nine, protecting three of the four par 3.

There is a challenging collection of longer par 4s, including the 13^th and 14^th holes; both playing at over 500 yards. Having said that, there are birdie chances to be found, especially on the par 5s; ranging between 522-571 yards, these holes will be scorable for all of the field.

THE WEATHER

Following a warm, sunny and clear tournament build-up, thunderstorms are set to appear on the opening day; accompanied by gusts of up to 28mph, the opening round could be a trying one.

However, those storms are set to disappear for the rest of the event and with gusts much lower at 16mph, heat may well be the most demanding aspect of the conditions for the majority of tournament week.

KEY STATS

• SG: Off-the-Tee/Driving Accuracy
• SG: Approach/Greens-in-Regulation
• SG: Putting (Bentgrass)
• Par 5 Scoring

We have no tournament-specific stats from those most recent editions of the South African Open and even if they were available I’m not sure how much we would be able to read into them six years later.

I think this tight, fiddly course requires a strategic and precision based ball-striking game to contend, something very much on show with those past winners of Graeme Storm and Andy Sullivan.

A strong week on these speedy and sloped bentgrass greens could also prove a decisive factor; Storm and Sullivan again two players who excelled in this area at the time of winning this event, as did Chris Paisley in 2018.

Additionally, the four par 5s look comfortably the best scoring opportunities on the course and it looks imperative to take advantage of them at Glendower this week.

CORRELATING EVENTS (COURSES)

Alfred Dunhill Championship (Leopard Creek)

Leopard Creek is a strategic, tree-lined course, with fairways that are tough to find and it is protected by smart bunkering throughout. These characteristics have enabled some of those Glendower winners to also perform well in the Alfred Dunhill.

Notable correlating form:

Brandon Stone:

Glendower (1^st) / Alfred Dunhill (1^st)

Andy Sullivan:

Glendower (1^st) / Alfred Dunhill (3^rd)

Graeme Storm:

Glendower (1^st) / Alfred Dunhill (4^th)

Daniel Van Tonder:

Glendower (1^st) / Alfred Dunhill (6^th)

Christiaan Bezuidenhout:

Glendower (2^nd) / Alfred Dunhill (1^st, 3^rd)

Thomas Aiken:

Glendower (5^th, 5^th) / Alfred Dunhill (4^th, 5^th)

Trevor Fisher Jnr:

Glendower (5^th, 7^th, 8^th) / Alfred Dunhill (4^th)

David Drysdale:

Glendower (7^th, 11^th) / Alfred Dunhill (2^nd, 6^th)

Joburg Open (Houghton Golf Club)

The revamped Houghton Golf Club has only hosted the Joburg Open for the last two years. It is based at altitude in the same part of the country, on a densely tree-lined setup with some tight driving lines and strategic fairway bunkers. Therefore, it should act as a strong comp this week.

Notable correlating form:

Daniel Van Tonder:

Glendower (1^st) / Houghton 3^rd)

Christiaan Bezuidenhout:

Glendower (2^nd) / Houghton (3^rd)

Dean Burmester:

Glendower (4^th) / Houghton (1^st)

Jacques Kruyswijk:

Glendower (4^th) / Houghton (4^th)

Omega European Masters (Crans-sur-Sierre)

With tight tree-lined corridors which require a strategic ball-striking approach and played at altitude, the delights of Crans-sur-Sierre have proven a good guide to Glendower in the past.

Notable correlating form:

Graeme Storm:

Glendower (1^st) / European Masters (2^nd)

Daniel Brooks:

Glendower (3^rd) / European Maters (5^th)

Lee Slattery:

Glendower (3^rd) / European Masters (6^th, 9^th)

Alejandro Canizares:

Glendower (6^th) / European Masters (4^th, 7^th)

Alexander Bjork:

Glendower (7^th) / European Masters (2^nd)

Renato Paratore:

Glendower (7^th) / European Masters (7^th, 7^th)

Adrien Saddier:

Glendower (7^th) / European Masters (7^th)

Dubai Desert Classic (Emirates Golf Club)

Narrow fairways, strategic bunkering, quick greens and lots of water in-play are just a few elements as to why Emirates Golf Club can point us in the right direction of probable Glendower performers.

Notable correlating form:

Andy Sullivan:

Glendower (1^st) / Dubai (2^nd, 4^th)

Brandon Stone:

Glendower (1^st) / Dubai (2^nd)

Morten Orum Madsen:

Glendower (1^st) / Dubai (4^th)

Chris Paisley:

Glendower (1^st) / Dubai (5^th)

Christiaan Bezuidenhout:

Glendower (2^nd) / Dubai (2^nd)

Dean Burmester:

Glendower (4^th) / Dubai (3^rd)

Gary Stal:

Glendower (5^th) / Dubai (4^th)

Thomas Aiken:

Glendower (5^th, 5^th) / Dubai (7^th, 9^th)

Alejandro Canizares:

Glendower (6^th) / Dubai (8^th)

Peter Uihlein:

Glendower (7^th) / Dubai (5^th)

Alexander Bjork:

Glendower (7^th) / Dubai (6^th)

Portugal Masters (Dom Pedro – Victoria Course)

The more exposed Dom Pedro Victoria Course may not look the most obvious comp event for this tree-lined haven. However, with narrow fairways, strategic bunkering and lots of water in-play, it has developed some unignorably strong form-ties with Glendower GC.

Notable correlating form:

Andy Sullivan:

Glendower (1^st) / Portugal (1^st, 2^nd)

Brandon Stone:

Glendower (1^st) / Portugal (2^nd)

Graeme Storm:

Glendower (1^st) / Portugal (3^rd)

Morten Orum Madsen:

Glendower (1^st) / Portugal (4^th)

Chris Paisley:

Glendower (1^st) / Portugal (5^th, 5^th)

Jordan Smith:

Glendower (3^rd) / Portugal (1^st)

Justin Walters:

Glendower (4^th) / Portugal (2^nd, 2^nd)

Trevor Fisher Jnr:

Glendower (5^th, 7^th, 8^th) / Portugal (3^rd)

Dean Burmester:

Glendower (4^th) / Portugal (7^th)

Scott Vincent:

Glendower (4^th) / Portugal (8^th)

Mikko Korhonen:

Glendower (7^th) / Portugal (3^rd)

Adrien Saddier:

Glendower (7^th) / Portugal (4^th)

In addition to those courses mentioned, it could also pay to look at the Kenya Open, with both host courses (Karen Country Club and Muthaiga Golf Club) tree-lined venues that are at altitude.

Whilst Gary Player Country Club, host of the Nedbank Challenge, is another lengthy course that is similarly shortened by playing in the thinner air.

THE FIELD

This week’s field is not too dissimilar in strength from last week, with four players from the top 100 set to tee it up, in the shape of: #81 Rikuya Hoshino, #89 Thriston Lawrence, #96 Jordan Smith and #100 Zander Lombard.

Last year’s Jonsson Workwear Open winner, Nick Bachem defends at this changed venue, with former Glendower winners, Andy Sullivan and Brandon Stone also in the field.

In-form Swede, Jesper Svensson is back in action after taking a slight breather last week; Dan Bradbury makes his first start since the Bahrain Championship over a month ago; and Andrew Johnston is back among the entries this week after withdrawing prior to the start of last week’s SDC Championship.

SELECTIONS

Market leaders: Thriston Lawrence 16/1, Zander Lombard 16/1, Ewen Ferguson 20/1, Tom McKibbin, Jordan Smith 22/1, Rikuya Hoshino 25/1

There’s little that appeals from the top of the betting this week in what looks another wide open DPWT event. Instead, I’m going to kick off my selections at the 40/1 mark and following a few weeks off, I’m taking Dan Bradbury to kickstart his season this week at Glendower.

1.5 pts Dan Bradbury each way (1/5 - 8 places) - 35/1 

Bradbury made a real impact in his rookie season on the DPWT, winning the Joburg Open at the end of 2022 and signed off 2023 with a strong series of results, which included top 6s in the Open de Espana and Nedbank Challenge, before making it to the DP World Tour Championship on his first try, where he finished 17^th.

He continued to look strong at the beginning of the new 2023/24 season in South Africa, finishing 3^rd in defence of his Joburg Open title and whilst results at the start of 2024 haven’t been overly impressive – with three missed cuts and a finish of 31^st - he doesn’t look all that far away.

Bradbury quickly established himself as one of the very best ball-strikers on tour last season and is replicating a similar level in this area at the beginning of this, ranking 3^rd in approach, 3^rd in greens-in-regulation and 39^th off-the-tee. With the addition of some improvements around-the-greens he’s the third-best player tee-to-green at this early point in the season and it’s been a real surprise to see him struggling to make cuts on recent starts.

The putter is almost solely responsible for that and he’ll need to have found a little something in the month since he last played. Returning to South Africa and on similar bentgrass surfaces to which he’s putted well on at the Joburg Open, I’m confident he can do just that this week.

Bradbury’s 1^st and 3^rd-place finishes at Houghton Golf Club should really serve him well here, as should a 5^th on his Nedbank debut last year; showing an adaptability at altitude at each course.

1 pt Andy Sullivan each way (1/5 - 6 places) - 45/1 

Andy Sullivan has been displaying signs of a return to form since the end of last year. He recorded his best finish in eighteen months last week in the SDC Championship and revisiting a course where he’s a past winner, he looks to have every chance this week.

Sullivan had endured a tough time throughout much of 2023, but with the fresh start of a new season he found something in the Opening Swing in South Africa at the end of last year. He kicked off his 2023/24 campaign by finishing 12^th in the Joburg Open and followed a 38^th-place finish in the South African Open with a 7^th at Leopard Creek.

His results at the beginning of 2024 look disappointing but it’s easy to forget that he was 2^nd at the halfway point of the Dubai Desert Classic – his first start of the year – before a dreadful weekend sent him tumbling down the leaderboard.

He struggled to bounce back from that over his next three starts, missing two cuts and finishing 43^rd in Bahrain. However, he showed promise in the Kenya Open, finishing 36^th and looked strong in approach; signing off there with a closing round of 67.

Sullivan’s 4^th-place finish in last week’s SDC Championship was somewhat bittersweet, as despite being his best finish in eighteen months he had every chance of taking the title in a difficult final round; with a closing 73 seeing him slip from two back of the lead at the start of that closing day to being four behind at the finish.

Having said that it has to be viewed as another big step in the right direction, where he particularly impressed with his irons, ranking 7^th and was 5^th in the field tee-to-green. Picking up where he left off in Kenya.

It’s nine years since Sullivan got the better of Charl Schwartzel here in a playoff in the 2015 South African Open, having finished 12^th on his previous visit two years earlier. A pile of correlating form also provides reasons for optimism, including a win and runner-up finish in Portugal; finishes of 2^nd, 4^th and 6^th in Dubai; and 3^rd-place finishes in South Africa in the Alfred Dunhill Championship and Nedbank Challenge

1 pt Aaron Cockerill each way (1/5 - 6 places) - 50/1

Aaron Cockerill has often looked a player capable of winning at this level over recent years. Starting this year in good form, he should give himself another chance this week at a course that looks very suitable based on some of his past result.

The Canadian left behind some poor form at the end of the previous season to kick off the new campaign in solid fashion, recording finishes of 32^nd, 25^th and 15^th in those South African events towards the end of last year.

He was not only able to sustain that level of form at the beginning of this year but has kicked on from there, finishing an excellent 4^th in the Dubai Desert Classic on his first start of 2024. Following another solid effort when 23^rd in the Ras Al Khaimah Championship, he put up a second top-10 finish of the year when finishing 6^th in Bahrain.

Slightly more subdued efforts of a missed cut in Qatar and 42^nd-place finish in Kenya have followed, although he was doing all of his best work at Muthaiga towards the end - closing out with a round of 67 – and will hopefully keep that momentum moving forward this week.

Cockerill combines an excellent short game, ranking 7^th around-the-greens and 20^th in putting this season, with a steady, accurate ball-striking game, ranking 16^th for driving accuracy and 39^th in greens-in-regulation.

That alone should make him appreciate his surroundings this week and when added to a top-10 ranking in par 5 scoring he has a compelling profile. Which is improved by some encouraging correlating form, including a runner-up finish in the Kenya Open at Muthaiga, and 4^th-place finishes in the Alfred Dunhill Championship and Dubai Desert Classic.

1 pt Jacques Kruyswijk each way (1/5 - 6 places) - 60/1 

Jacques Kruyswijk’s form has been trending in the right direction on the DPWT this year and with an eye-catching result at this course, as well as in some of the comp events, he can put up another improved finish this week.

Kruyswijk spent much of last season away from the DPWT but added two more trophies to his collection, first winning on the Sunshine Tour in August and following with a win in the Dormy Open on the Challenge Tour two weeks later. He then finished 11^th in the 2023 DPWT Q School to regain playing privileges on the tour for this season and has taken full advantage of his starts so far.

He’s made six starts this season and seen the weekend every time, including an excellent 4^th in the Joburg Open at the end of last year. After finishing 19^th on the Sunshine Tour on his first start of 2024, he has since played three times on the DPWT, recording finishes of 48^th and 27^th in the Middle East, before finishing 11^th in Kenya two weeks ago.

The South African was initially more of a power player but has relinquished that in favour of accuracy and it’s paying dividends this season, as this strong series of results coincides with him ranking 23^rd in driving accuracy. When fused with his strong short game, ranking 1^st around-the-greens and 34^th in putting, he has enough in his bag to be a serious factor this week.

There’s no need to speculate on this as Kruyswijk finished 4^th at Glendower on his latest visit in the 2018 South African Open. That 4^th in the Joburg Open and multiple 5^th-place finishes in Kenya strengthen his case this week.

1 pt Ashun Wu each way (1/5 - 8 places) - 100/1

Ashun Wu continues to impress with his approach play and looks a massive price as a four-time winner this week; on the type of course that he has so often performed well.

Wu began his year in inauspicious fashion, recording two missed cuts and two finishes of 48^th in the Middle East in his opening four starts. He improved considerably with a 9^th in the Qatar Masters and has followed that up with another solid effort of 23^rd in Kenya, before a narrow missed cut last week at St Francis Links; a course that wouldn’t have suited as much as this week’s venue.

He has ranked inside the top 10 in approach in each of those last two starts and whilst he’s generally more consistent with the short game, it’s when he finds something in approach that he usually does his winning, as he showed with his last two DPWT successes in Kenya in 2022 and in the Netherlands in 2018. Entering both of those weeks with some strong recent approach play to his name.

That win in Kenya looks a really strong comp for Wu this week on his first try at Glendower. Correlating form that is enhanced by several top 10s across the Dubai Desert Classic, European Masters and Portugal Masters.

1 pt Ockie Strydom each way (1/5 - 8 places) - 100/1 

Ockie Strydom is another proven DPWT winner who has found something in approach on recent starts and he looks a big price to record a home victory this week.

Strydom was slow to get going this year but has come on significantly over his last three starts. A 4^th at the Bahrain Championship three starts ago was his best finish since this event last year, and he’s followed up with encouraging efforts of 16^th in the Qatar Masters and 32^nd in last week’s SDC Championship.

The irons have been a standout asset across those results, first ranking inside the top 20 in approach in Bahrain. He then ranked 5^th in Qatar and 10^th last week at St Francis Links. Whilst the putter is also looking in good shape.

Strydom has played here several times in the past, recording a best of 20^th in 2018. An event in which he started with a 3-over 75 to sit 113^th after round one but rallied with three consecutive rounds in the 60s to post that top 20.

You could’ve been forgiven for thinking his win at the correlating Leopard Creek in 2022 would be a one off for the South African, though he showed it was no fluke when winning again on tour in Singapore the following year. Starting to show a level of consistency in recent starts that we haven’t seen from him before at this level despite those wins, he looks primed to add a third trophy this week and is a big price to do so.

You can find all Jamie's latest Golf Betting Tips over on our dedicated golf Insights hub.