3 Tours come together for Mauritius Open

The AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open is the only event sanctioned by the European, Asian and Sunshine Tours. Players from 29 countries will compete at the Four Seasons Golf Club at Anahita.

While many of the world’s best are doing battle for The Players Championship this week in Florida, players further down the ranking will look to take advantage and secure a win in this young tournament – only in its second year.

With a prize fund of just €1 million, the Mauritius Open isn’t one of the richest events on the European Tour schedule, but for many in the field the prizes associated with a victory here could be career-changing. For those on the start sheet who are not currently exempt on the European Tour, a win in Mauritius would give them a route onto the circuit and a chance to take a significant step up the rankings.

Last year at Heritage Golf Club, South Africa’s George Coetzee beat Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark at the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.

There are some form players on the start sheet this time out – European Tour winners from this season include Scott Hend of Australia, South Korea’s Soomin Lee, China’s Li Haotong and Jeunghun Wang also of South Korea. Nicolas Colsaerts and Jeev Milkha Singh will also tee it up.

Nicolas Colsaerts swing sequence:

There’s a new venue for this, the second instalment of the tournament. The course at the Four Seasons GC is an Ernie Els design that stretches to almost 7,500 yards. With six of the holes clinging to the ocean front, it’s a spectacular setting for golf.

The weather could be a little disappointing. At the time of writing, rain is forecast from Friday onward.

Venue: Four Seasons GC at Anahita, Beau Champ, Mauritius Date: May 12-15 Course stats: par 72, 7,401 yards Purse: €1,000,000 Defending Champion: George Coetzee (-13)

TV Coverage: Thursday 12 – Sky Sports 4 from 7.30am Friday 13 – Sky Sports 4 from 7.30am Saturday 14 – Sky Sports 4 from 9.30am Sunday 15 – Sky Sports 4 from 9am

Player watch: Three young Asian players who have recently won on the European Tour will be looking to follow up from those successes. They are:

Soomin Lee – The South Korean won the Shenzhen International at the end of April but he was also tied 2nd in the Maybank Malaysian Open in February. He currently sits 10th on the Race to Dubai standings with season’s earnings of over €650,000.

Li Haotong – He won in his native China at the Volvo China Open, two weeks ago and will look to continue on from that. The 20-year-old is knocking on the door of the World’s Top-100.

Jeunghun Wang – Another 20-year-old with a seemingly bright future. The South Korean won in Morocco last week, following up for a tied 2nd place finish in the Hero Indian Open.

Key hole: 18th. A stunning par-5 of 560 yards that should be reachable in two for the stronger hitters. Played along the waterfront the approach is to a green flanked by the beach. It will provide a great stage for the end of this event.