Hansen eyeing Joburg success

Denmark’s Anders Hansen admits the preparation for his Joburg Open title defence this week has not been ideal.

The 39-year-old can expect conditions at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington to be distinctly different to what he has experienced in recent days.

“It’s been difficult because I’ve come here from home where we have three feet of snow,” he told the European Tour website, "but my goal is to win – the goal is always to succeed.”

Hansen, who stands at a career-high 39th in the world, last year became the first European since Peter Oosterhuis in 1972 to top the South African Order of Merit.

He also won their Vodacom Championship and in December finished third at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and South African Open, both co-sanctioned with the European Tour.

“I just want to try and carry on from last season,” added the two-time PGA champion.

“Last year was great. There are a couple of things I need to work on to improve, so I’ll be trying to do that at the same time as keeping the momentum going.

“I like being here, my coach is from here and I’m always treated very well, so I feel very much at home. The courses we play are always great too.”

Competition this week is likely to be led by countryman Soren Hansen, South African Charl Schwartzel, who tops Europe’s money list after his win in the Africa Open on Sunday, Italian World Cup winner Edoardo Molinari and England’s Chris Wood – last season’s Rookie of the Year following his third-place finish at The Open.