Richard Sterne is looking to maintain the dominance of home golfers in the South African Open Championship by triumphing in the tournament for the second year in succession.

The TaylorMade golf clubs user became the eighth consecutive South African to top the leaderboard at the event last year when getting the better of Gareth Maybin in the first hole of a play-off.

He returns to Pearl Valley Golf Estates in the Western Cape province this week looking to extend this run further and build on his own good form.

Sterne recently tied for fourth in the Alfred Dunhill Championship, an event he also won in 2008, and was especially impressive when firing a round of 66 with his golf balls on his closing 18 holes.

Despite failing to regain this title, he told the European Tour website that the South African Open Championship was perhaps the most important event to him on the whole golf calendar.

He said: "There is definitely something different about a South African Open victory. As a young South African golfer, it's one of the most prestigious titles you can win. It's almost unbelievable to see your name engraved on that trophy.

"Winning the South African Open last year was a defining moment in my career. For most of us the majors are our biggest focus, but for me personally, it has always been a dream and a goal to win our national Open."

However, Sterne is not the only South African to arrive at the tournament playing solid golf, with Nike golf clubs player Charl Schwartzel also on the brink of a victory.

The 25-year-old is without a European Tour win since landing the Madrid Masters last year, but finished one shot adrift of Pablo Martin in the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

He told the upcoming event's website that the key to this performance was an improvement in form with his golf putter, something he is looking to build upon this week.

"I put it all in there last week. There was a lot of confidence. I was making good putts and making a very good charge at the end. I felt like I putted well. I've been struggling with that in final rounds the whole year," Schwartzel said.

"The year's not finished yet. I'm playing well and looking forward to the SA Open."

Meanwhile, a number of other talented golfers will be keen to succeed in the event, which was last won by someone outside of the country in 2000, when Mathias Gronberg emerged victorious.

Among these are bright prospects Louis Oosthuizen and Thomas Aiken, while leading the European charge will be Anders Hansen and Eduardo Molinari.

Other South Africans to have had their name added to the trophy since 2001 are TaylorMade TP Black golf balls user Retief Goosen, Tim Clark and Ernie Els, who plays with a Callaway FT-9 golf driver and Callaway X-Forged golf wedges.

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