Justin Rose leads the international challenge against local stars Retief Goosen, Ernie Els and Trevor Immelman at this week's South African Open. At 88 in the world, Briton Rose is the highest-ranked overseas player.
But just six international competitors have won the event since 1903, the last being Swede Mathias Gronberg in 2000.
The presence of Els, Goosen, Immelman and defending champion Tim Clark among the 156-man field suggests South African dominance may continue.
Rose carries British hopes in the co-sanctioned European Tour/Southern African Sunshine Tour event following the withdrawal of his 59th-ranked compatriot Ian Poulter.
 |  It's a tough layout - you have to be driving well to play well on it, |
"I come out to play the Fancourt courses every Christmas, and also to spend time with the family," explained Rose, who won his first European Tour title in Johannesburg - his birthplace - in 2002. "I've got some good practice in this year already. I think this will be an advantage because I'm super-relaxed."
Rose, 25, finished 55th on the US Tour money list last season and twice came close to claiming a maiden title on American soil.
World number four Goosen is more cautious in his assessment of the event.
"It's a tough layout. You have to be driving well to play well on it, and that's one area of my game where I've been struggling lately," said Goosen
Els, ranked fifth, won the Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek last weekend in his second tournament since knee surgery, but doubts remain over his fitness.
Other South Africans in the field for Fancourt who have done well recently include Leopard Creek runners-up Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, and James Kingston, who finished second in the Hong Kong Open.
MMIX
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