Month: February 2026

Ernie Els has confirmed that he will play in the 115^th Investec South African Open Championship at Stellenbosch Golf Club from 26 February to 1 March, 2026, adding his name to a strong South African challenge.

Els, a five-time winner of the Investec South African Open, will join a local challenge that includes Charl Schwartzel, defending champion Dylan Naidoo, and former champions Dean Burmester, Thriston Lawrence, Daniel van Tonder and Branden Grace.

The multiple Major champion has been a dominant force in the Investec South African Open throughout his illustrious career.

Els claimed his first victory in his national Open in 1992, and won it again in 1996, 1998, 2006 and 2010. He has also finished runner-up in 1993, 1995 and 2005.

It will be a sentimental return to Stellenbosch for Els as the last time the Investec South African Open was played at Stellenbosch Golf Club in 1999 he was defending his title. His countryman David Frost won that year.

Els’ presence in this year’s field adds to what will be one of the most significant weeks in South African golf, with Major incentives on offer.

The winner of this year’s Investec South African Open Championship will earn an exemption to the 2026 Masters, while the top three finishers will earn a place in The 154^th Open at Royal Birkdale if not already exempt. – Michael Vlismas Media

• Major champion leads stellar field at Fancourt

• Defending champion Du Toit and young star Moodley headline NTT DATA Ladies’ Pro-Am brought to you by Standard Bank

GEORGE, Western Cape – Ernie Els will lead the cream of South African golf at the NTT DATA Men’s and Ladies’ Pro-Ams brought to you by Standard Bank at Fancourt from 12-15 February.

The four-time Major winner and former world number one has added his name to a stellar field for the men’s tournament, which is co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour.

“I have such wonderful memories of this tournament throughout my career, and I’m looking forward to playing in it again. They have been such a loyal and longstanding partner of the Sunshine Tour. The Sunshine Tour is where I started my career and I’ve always come back to play here whenever I can. It’s going to be great to see some old faces and a few of the youngsters on the Tour as well,” said Els.

Els will be joined in the field of one of the Sunshine Tour’s most historic tournaments by rising star Casey Jarvis, who won twice in three weeks on the Sunshine Tour this season, as well as defending champion Wilco Nienaber and a host of the Tour’s other recent champions and young stars.

With his dominant seven-shot victory last year, Nienaber joined an exclusive club of only four players to have won this title twice in its 31-year history, including Nick Price, Darren Fichardt and Oliver Bekker.

“I’m excited to return to Fancourt to try and defend my title. It’s a privilege to be one of the few multiple winners of such a prestigious tournament. I love Fancourt, and every single one of the golf courses there,” said Nienaber.

The NTT DATA Ladies’ Pro-Am brought to you by Standard Bank also boasts an impressive lineup, with Danielle du Toit back to defend her title after she beat Lee-Anne Pace in a playoff last year. Pace is also in the field as the most successful golfer in the history of the Sunshine Ladies Tour and a former champion of this tournament who also boasts three runners-up finishes.

And young star Kaiyuree Moodley, the winner of last season’s R&A Rookie of the Year on the Sunshine Ladies Tour, returns to a tournament where she made her professional debut.

“It was a dream to make my professional debut in this event last year, and to play at Fancourt. They have fantastic golf courses there. We also get to play with the Sunshine Tour professionals, and that in itself was a learning experience for me. I’m really excited to go back. Watching Danielle win it last year and what it did for her career, I remember thinking it would be amazing to win this tournament one day.”

The strength of both fields is confirmation of a week that will be a true celebration of golf excellence in a tournament that has in its 31-year history featured men’s champions including Major winners, Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup stars, and former world number ones; and a ladies’ tournament that since 2014 has been a cornerstone of the Sunshine Ladies Tour.

The Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour professionals will compete for a total purse of R7 million over the three golf courses of the Montagu, Outeniqua and Links.

The Sunshine Ladies Tour professionals can look forward to an increased purse of R2.5 million as they compete on the Montagu and Outeniqua courses.

“The 2026 NTT DATA Pro-Am represents a meaningful opportunity for us to continue elevating the sport across Africa,” says Thembeka Ngugi, Head of Marketing, NTT DATA Middle East and Africa.

“This tournament brings together world‑class talent, inspiring young athletes and seasoned professionals alike, in an environment that celebrates excellence, diversity and community. Our partnership with Standard Bank strengthens this vision even further and together, we are creating opportunities, expanding access, and showcasing the transformative impact that sport and collaboration can have across the continent.”

“We are immensely proud to support the NTT DATA Pro‑Am series as the headline sponsor this year. As an organisation, we have an abiding belief in the power of sports to change lives for the better. Amongst other things, through this sponsorship, we aim to drive diversity, encourage inclusion, and support the aspirations of the talent participating. The increased prize money for the ladies’ tournament, along with the quality of participants across both fields, affirms this ambition. We hope this tournament will serve as a catalyst for future aspiring golfers of all genders and backgrounds,” says Steve Barnes, Head of Corporate and Investment Banking for South Africa at Standard Bank.

Both tournaments will also feature a showcase of sports stars and celebrities, with live coverage on SuperSport.

About NTT DATA

NTT DATA is a $30+ billion business and technology services leader, serving 75% of the Fortune Global 100. We are committed to accelerating client success and positively impacting society through responsible innovation. We are one of the world’s leading AI and digital infrastructure providers, with unmatched capabilities in enterprise-scale AI, cloud, security, connectivity, data centers and application services. Our consulting and industry solutions help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 70 countries. We also offer clients access to a robust ecosystem of innovation centers as well as established and start-up partners. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3 billion each year in R&D. 

Visit us at nttdata.com

About Standard Bank

The Standard Bank Group is the largest African bank by assets, operating in 21 African countries, 4 global financial centres and 2 offshore hubs.

Headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, we are listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with share code SBK, and the Namibian Stock Exchange, share code SNB. Standard Bank has a 163-year history in South Africa and started building a franchise outside southern Africa in the early 1990s. Our strategic position, which enables us to connect Africa to other select emerging markets as well as pools of capital in developed markets, and our balanced portfolio of businesses, provide significant opportunities for growth.

As at 30 June 2025, Standard Bank Group had 19.2 million clients, employed over 50 000 people (including Liberty) and had over 1 180 points of representation and over 5 400 ATMs across the African continent. The group’s largest shareholder is the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the world’s largest bank, with a 19.7% shareholding. In addition, Standard Bank Group and ICBC share a strategic partnership that facilitates trade and deal flow between Africa, China and select emerging markets.

For further information, go to http://www.standardbank.com
– Michael Vlismas Media

CAPE TOWN, Western Cape – As England’s Will Enefer signed the pin flags confirming his victory in the CIRCA Cape Town Open, it suddenly became real for him.

“I’ve never done this before. I can get used to it,” he said, having just beaten South Africa’s Hennie Otto in a playoff to win this Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour event at Royal Cape Golf Club on Sunday.

Enefer and Otto finished a windy final round tied for the lead on 14 under par. Both had played impressive golf on a day that had the most wind all week. Enefer climbed through the field with a 69 built around his five birdies in six holes over the turn. Otto signed for a closing 68 and didn’t drop a single shot on a challenging final day.

Playing the par-four 18^th again as the first playoff hole, Enefer hit a solid approach to 10 feet and holed the birdie putt to take the title. His caddie, Moeketsi Tsatsi, received the Sunshine Tour medallion for the winning caddie.

“I’m ecstatic. It’s great to get over the line. It’s been a long four days and I stayed patient out there, and luckily came away with the win,” he said.

Otto finished runner-up for the second time in this tournament, while Spain’s Santiago Tarrio finished third on 13 under par with a closing 74.

Enefer spent a season on the DP World Tour in 2024 and brought all of that experience to the playoff.

“Being out on the DP World Tour for a year taught me a lot. I came back to the HotelPlanner Tour determined to be more aggressive because I know how top heavy the points system is – you have to win out here to really push on. It’s nice to get a win early, and I’ll just try and push on from here,” he said as he continues his quest to regain a place on the DP World Tour.

“I got off to a rough start today and the wind was from a different direction. But I made some putts around the turn, and knew it was going to be tough coming in. I feel like I’ve got a decent pedigree out here and had a very solid season last year, so I was definitely looking to try and get one over the line. This week I just stuck to my gameplan and let it happen.” – Michael Vlismas

CAPE TOWN, Western Cape – Trevor Fisher Jnr. took another casual stroll around 18 holes at Royal Cape Golf Club on Saturday. He chipped in for eagle. He putted well. He signed for a 67. And he leads the CIRCA Cape Town Open by a single shot going into Sunday’s final round. It was the perfect example of how to make golf look easy.

“I’m just trying to enjoy it, which is not always easy with this game,” said the South African, who heads the field on 16 under par as he looks to end a decade-long win drought with a victory in this Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour event.

His nearest challenger is Spain’s Santiago Tarrio who posted a 65 for a total of 15 under par. Another Spaniard in Pablo Ereno is third on 12 under par after a 70.

But on Saturday, despite what was happening around him, Fisher Jnr. looked to be in his own world. And that’s exactly where he plans to stay.

“I felt relaxed out there and didn’t feel under pressure. If I was in trouble I managed to get out of it. I putted nicely and saved one or two shots with some nice up-and-downs. But I’m trying to take the pressure off myself and just play the game, and not have too many swing thoughts in my head.”

As a nine-time winner, the last of which was the DP World Tour co-sanctioned Africa Open in 2015, Fisher Jnr. has a wealth of experience for what Sunday’s final round will bring – including a healthy dose of Cape wind.

His short game has been sublime, highlighted by a chip-in for eagle on the par-four 12^th today.

“I’d made a naughty three-putt the hole before – my first this week. So I had a 25-metre chip and it spun a bit right and went in. That was nice.”

But it’s his new realisation of how he wants to approach the game going forward that has worked so well for him this week.

“This is not a perfect game. You just need to find a way to get the ball in the hole in the least amount of shots. I’m just trying to be very easy and chilled out there. So tomorrow we’ll take another casual stroll out there and see what happens. If we do it we do it. If we don’t, I’ll still be the same person on Monday.”

It’s a common theme amongst the leading contenders.

Behind him, Tarrio is taking the same approach.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve made scores like this. I was very relaxed. It’s been a tough last few years, so my focus is to enjoy it first, and the score comes after that.” – Michael Vlismas

CAPE TOWN, Western Cape – It’s been over a decade since South Africa’s Trevor Fisher Jnr. last won a title, and he heads into the weekend of the CIRCA Cape Town Open with a chance to end that wait at Royal Cape Golf Club.

Using a putter that was given to him by fellow professional Rupert Kaminsky, Fisher Jnr. signed for a 67 and the overall lead on 11 under par.

“I took Rupert’s putter on Tuesday and it’s been working unbelievably well. So sorry, Rupert, but you’re not getting it back,” said Fisher Jnr.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in this position. I think I need to get my hands on a trophy again. But I won’t be getting ahead of myself.”

His nearest challenger in this Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour event is Spain’s Pablo Ereno on 10 under following his second round of 68 on Friday.

On a day when Royal Cape started to play more to its true form with a constant wind, Fisher Jnr. teed off his round with successive birdies and was five under through his first eight holes. He played the next 10 holes in level par as a few bogeys crept in. But he was more than satisfied with a round that has given him a shot at a trophy again.

“I got off to a nice start today and was coasting. I hit one or two bad shots but that’s going to happen in the wind, which was tricky today. You don’t have to hit the ball perfectly to win a golf tournament. You’ve just got to manage yourself. I think there is still a low score out there,” said the former DP World Tour champion.

And he’s bringing a different mindset to the weekend.

“There are a lot of good players behind me. I’m just trying to enjoy myself. I’m just grateful to be in a position to chase this title. I haven’t done that for some time. But there is still a long way to go. I feel like I’m a bit more relaxed this week. I actually don’t care if I win or lose, which is a nice attitude to have. I think you can put yourself under too much pressure to try and win tournaments. You’ve just got to try and control what you can, enjoy yourself, walk easy out there and not put too much pressure on yourself to try and shoot a good score. Just play the game.”

Behind him, Spain’s Enero is enjoying being in contention in his first tournament in South Africa.

“I’m playing on an invitation this week so my aim is to just do my best to get some status on a tour this year because I don’t have any at the moment. It’s exciting to be in contention. This is why I play golf. I love the pressure. This is my first time in South Africa and I like the country a lot,” he said. – Michael Vlismas

CAPE TOWN, Western Cape – The first-round leaderboard of the CIRCA Cape Town Open resembled the peak holiday queue for the cable car up Table Mountain as seven players finished tied for the lead on seven under par at Royal Cape Golf Club on Thursday.

Louis Albertse is the lone South African in that pack after his opening round of seven-under 65 earned him the joint lead with England’s Tom Lewis, Will Enefer and Sam Hutsby, Ireland’s Gary Hurley, Norway’s Baard Skogen, and Scotland’s Marc Warren.

They are one stroke clear of a pack of nine players that includes Wilco Nienaber, who made only the second albatross of his career at the par-five 16^th as he signed for a 66.

It’s an intriguing leaderboard, with Albertse contending for a tournament where he finished third in 2024; Enefer sharing the lead on a golf course where he caddied for his Ladies European Tour girlfriend, Ana Dawson, when she played a Sunshine Ladies Tour event here in 2024; Hurley leading a tournament after believing last September he might never play competitive golf again because of a shoulder condition; and Lewis who stunned the world in 2011 when as an amateur he shared the first-round lead in The Open.

“To start the week like this is pleasing,” said Albertse. “My expectations were low going into the round and I just wanted a solid start. I got the front nine going, made a bogey on 10 which was disappointing, but then played really nicely coming in,” he said of his five birdies in six holes on the back nine.

Hurley was equally delighted with his opening round, given that he’s come to South Africa for this co-sanctioned Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour stretch of tournaments to test a shoulder condition he thought might end his career.

“About three weeks ago I actually wasn’t going to come out here. About a year ago I woke up one day and couldn’t lift up my arm and didn’t know what it was. I went to see a specialist and she said I had Parsonage-Turner Syndrome, which in my case affected a spinal nerve that controls everything with how you move your shoulder. It took so long to recover and last September I was starting to look at doing other things outside of golf. Then I started working with my coach to find a way to load my shoulder differently in the swing. It doesn’t seem to cause me pain anymore. I’m delighted,” he said.

And Lewis was thrilled to have gone bogey-free on day one. “It was a nice round. Bogey-free always shows you’re hitting it well. I miss being out on the main tour. Last year I didn’t want to play and this year I do want to play, so I’m really looking forward to the next few days,” he said. – Michael Vlismas

BELA BELA, Limpopo – South Africa’sMJ Viljoen claimed a dramatic playoff victory in the SDC Open at the Zebula Golf Estate & Spa on Sunday, securing his first title on the HotelPlanner Tour.

Viljoen came from one shot behind at the start of the round and looked headed for a comfortable victory when he was at one point, three shots clear on the back nine. But a charging Deon Germishuys and a weather delay quickly changed that.

Germishuys birdied two of his last four holes for a 67 to set the clubhouse target at sixteen under. Viljoen came back after the delay and bogeyed his next three holes to slip one behind Germishuys. Viljoen then birdied the par five 18^th for a 70 to force the playoff.

Viljoen birdied the 18^th to claim the title in the playoff.

“It’s massive. I went through a lot the last two or three years. I had some decent starts on the HotelPlanner Tour. It’s time it happened. This opens a lot of doors for me,” said Viljoen.

“It was a lot of emotions today. I threw it away a bit after the start again, but I kept believing in myself and I brought it through. I look at the leaderboard but I try not to react to it too much. Try to keep the mind clear and stay in the moment, and just play.”

Viljoen was very happy to share the special moment with his family.

“It’s very cool. My wife flew to Johannesburg on Friday, and it’s very nice to have them here.”

It’s Viljoen’s fourth Sunshine Tour victory of his career, but more importantly his first on the HotelPlanner Tour which has provided a valuable pathway for South African professionals to graduate onto the DP World Tour.

Jean Hugo and Maxence Giboudot shared third place on 14 under. South Africa’s Ryan van Velzen produced an incredible closing 63, with a back nine of 29 to secure a top-five finish.

This was the first of four tournaments co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour, with the next event set to take place at Royal Cape Golf Club this week in the CIRCA Cape Town Open. – Michael Vlismas