South Africa to host third European Tour event

South Africa will host a third European Tour event next year after the inaugural Joburg Open was added to the schedule.

The event will be held at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club between January 11 and 14 and will be co-sanctioned by the European Tour.

It will be the first time the country will stage three official Order of Merit events in the same season.

There are now 51 counting events for the 2006-2007 money list, starting with this week's HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.

Executive director George O'Grady said: "This is in keeping with our aim of providing our members with as many playing opportunities as possible, while further underlining our strong relationship with the Sunshine Tour."

With a total field size of 200 professionals - 100 each from the two Tours - both the East and West courses at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington will be played over the first two rounds, with the field moving to the West Course after the halfway cut of 70 plus ties.