Everybody wants to beat the defending champion but Scott Jamieson is well aware his rivals in this week's Nelson Mandela Championship have an added incentive to steal his crown.

South Africa is a nation in mourning following the death of its former President at the weekend and the championship which bears his name has now become one of the most sought-after European Tour prizes for the large home contingent from the Rainbow Nation.

"I'll feel like I'm playing the whole of South Africa this week," said Jamieson as he prepared for today's opening round of a tournament that has been brought forward a day to avoid clashing with Mandela's state funeral on Sunday.

"All the flags are at half mast and you get a sense of the sombre mood around the place.

"It's obviously changed the whole complexion and atmosphere.

"It would be an honour to be champion again and I'd love to do it but I know every South African player here will be wanting it just as much."

A year ago at Royal Durban, Jamieson emerged on top in an event that was reduced to 36-holes because of rain to claim his first European Tour title.

He followed that success by finishing third and second in his next two events in South Africa as he laid down the solid foundations for a stellar season which saw him finish 31st on the money list.

There is no time for the Scot to rest on the laurels in this game, of course.

The 2014 European Tour campaign began just four days after the conclusion of the 2013 Race to Dubai and Jamieson has missed his first two cuts, in the South African Open and also at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Jamieson, who also represented GB&I in the Seve Trophy match against Europe, said: "It's a shame there is no real off-season in golf but you just have to pick your events wisely.

"I've probably played too much to be honest. I was working so hard to get into the big events at the end of the year and probably shouldn't have played these first two. I'm a bit run down."

With his wife, Natalie, expecting their first child in January, the Nelson Mandela Championship this week could very well turn out to be Jamieson's final event until March of next year.

The 30-year-old is therefore likely to miss the highly-lucrative Middle East swing and with it the huge tally of Ryder Cup qualifying points that will be on offer.

However, the local lad said: "There are things that are more important now."