Sterne shoots for triple crown

It was a final round of 64 as he scorched the layout at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club that saw him claim the trophy last year and Sterne admits the course does have a tendency to bring out the best in him.

“I’m looking forward to this week obviously it’s a place I enjoy. I won here twice. Something happens here that generally brings out the best in me so hopefully it happens again,” Sterne said yesterday.

“It’s a good driving golf course, you have to drive it well, and that’s generally one of my strong points.

“It was an enjoyable round. To go out and shoot 64 with no bogeys. Any time you are in contention or leading to do something like that was special and there was just good quality golf. I struck it well and made a lot of good putts as well. If I putt well I generally win,” he added of his effort in last year’s closing round.

But the six-time European Tour winner admits that the prospect of claiming a treble of titles here hasn’t put him under any pressure in the build-up to this week’s event.

“In this game you never know what’s going to happen. It would be nice to defend and win three times but it doesn’t put any pressure on me or anything.

“I’ll just take it as it comes and hopefully come Sunday I’ve got a chance. We’ve got a couple of good players here this year so it’s going to be a bit stronger field. I feel like I’m playing well and I just have to cut out the mistakes and then I should be up there again.”