Schwartzel returns home to defend title at Malelane

Four-time winner Charl Schwartzel is looking to continue his dominance as he returns to home soil for the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

The 32-year-old has finished in the top two eight times in his last 12 outings in the event and arrives as the defending champion.

South African Schwartzel, who in 2012 won the event by a remarkable 12 strokes, is a combined 122 under for the tournament, 77 strokes better than anyone else.

“There is something about playing on home ground where you feel more at ease and you are comfortable,” the 2011 Masters champion told europeantour.com.

“Over the years it can become a little bit of a mental thing being away all the time and can really affect your game. When you’re back on home soil all those aspects make you perform better.

“This is definitely one of my favourite weeks. I’ve had a lot of success here and it is one of those courses if I find my game I can really go low.”

Compatriot Branden Grace, the 2014 champion, is currently South Africa's top-ranked golfer at number 16 in the world. Having successfully defended his Qatar Masters title back in January he is looking to get the 2017 European Tour schedule off to a good start.

“I feel the game is there. I have progressed nicely in the past couple of weeks and hopefully I can finish the year with a bang like I started it,” he said

After getting married to long-time girlfriend Nieke Coetzee last week Grace has put his honeymoon on hold to play at Leopard Creek.

“I have to pay for the wedding somehow,” he joked.