Jose Maria Olazabal admits he is envious of the production line of golfing talent coming out of South Africa.
The Spaniard, who memorably captained Europe to Ryder Cup victory last year, is in South Africa this week to play in the European Tour’s inaugural Tshwane Open in Centurion.
While Spain continue to search for players to build on the success of Seve Ballesteros and Olazabal himself, South African golfers have had no such problems following in the footsteps of Gary Player.
South Africans have won majors in each of the last three years, with Louis Oosthuizen winning the Open in 2010, Charl Schwartzel prevailing at the 2011 Masters and veteran Ernie Els pipping Adam Scott to win last year’s Open.
Olazabal said: “There are a lot of great players, no question. For whatever reason, this country is able to deliver great players.
“To be honest, the level here is much better than in Spain. It’s true that for a while we had great players in Spain, but we are struggling to see a new generation coming through.
“But you have a lot of great players, major winners, in this country. In a way, I envy that.”
The Tshwane Open, which is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour, is the sixth European Tour event in South Africa this season, and the home players in the field will be hoping to make it a fifth win.
Schwartzel took the honours at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, Oosthuizen won the Volvo Golf Champions, Richard Sterne triumphed at the Joburg Open and, most recently, the Africa Open was won by Darren Fichardt.
Fichardt is looking for back-to-back European Tour wins this week and will be especially at home as he grew up close by in Centurion.
Only five Scots have made the trip Callum Macaulay, Chris Doak, Marc Warren, David Drysdale and Scott Henry. Former major winners Darren Clarke and Michael Campbell are also in the field.
Ewan Scott (St Andrews) and Balmore’s Fraser McKenna and are through to the last eight of the South African men’s amateur matchplay golf championship.
They now play each other for a place in the semi-finals at Johannesburg Country Club.
Scottish youths champion Scott won by one hole over Hennie Du Plessis and then won at the 20th in a thriller of a tie against Teagan Moore.
McKenna beat South African Jade Buitendag 5 and 4, then chalked up a 6 and 5 win over Jason Viljoen.