Category: Featured News

The 115^th Investec South African Open will be played at Stellenbosch Golf Club, with the Cape’s fourth oldest golf club hosting the national Open for the second time in its history at the end of February 2026.

Stellenbosch Golf Club hosted the Investec South African Open in 1999 when local favourite
David Frost won the title at the golf club where he grew up and used to caddie for his father.

“Investec believes strongly that the Investec South African Open should travel around the country as a showcase of South African professional golf, and to allow the majority of South Africans to see and be inspired by this Out of the Ordinary championship which has such a proud history,” said Peta Dixon, Investec Head of Sponsorships.

“After being founded in 1974, one of Investec’s first regional offices opened in Cape Town in 1980, so we have a long and proud history in the Western Cape. We now have offices in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, Paarl, Tyger Valley, Knysna and George. We look forward to bringing the Investec South African Open back to Stellenbosch Golf Club for the first time in 26 years.”

Chris van der Merwe, General Manager of Stellenbosch Golf Club, said the club was delighted to welcome the Investec South African Open back to its fairways in the magnificent winelands of the Western Cape.

“We are incredibly honoured to have been selected as the host venue for the 2026 Investec South African Open and look forward to showcasing this prestigious championship as well as the beauty of Stellenbosch and the Cape winelands to a global audience. As one of the oldest golf clubs in the Cape, and indeed in South Africa, Stellenbosch Golf Club has hosted some major professional and amateur tournaments over the years and produced some of South Africa’s finest professionals such as Justin Harding, Oliver Bekker, Keenan Davidse, JJ Senekal and Hennie O’Kennedy. We’re looking forward to what will be a wonderful next edition in the proud history of this great championship.”

The Investec South African Open is co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour and forms part of the DP World Tour’s International Swing. – Michael Vlismas

When the rain finally stopped, they came. They came and they filled the grandstands and surrounded the 18^th green at Durban Country Club. They came because not a waterlogged golf course nor a championship decided over 54 holes could stop history. They came to see Dylan Naidoo become the first South African player of colour to win the Investec South African Open.

With South Africa’s Naidoo and England’s Laurie Canter tied for the lead on 14 under par after three rounds, a deluge of rain on Sunday forced the cancellation of the final round. It was then decided that the two of them would settle this year’s championship in a playoff on the par-four 18^th. And with the weight of history resting on his young shoulders, Naidoo stood tall as he made the birdie on the first playoff hole that shook South African golf history.

The fact that this former member of the GolfRSA National Squad did it at a Durban Country Club where in 1963 Sewsunker “Papwa” Sewgolum made history as the first player of colour to win a professional golf tournament in South Africa in the Natal Open added to the history of the day.

“For what this means in terms of Papwa Sewgolum and him having won the Natal Open here, it’s incredible. I feel like he was with me here today,” said Naidoo.

The victory secures Naidoo a DP World Tour card and he also claimed one of the three spots on offer for The Open at Royal Portrush this July on a magical Sunday. A Sunday when his father had flown in to watch a final round that didn’t happen, then left for the airport to fly back home for work on Monday, then raced back from the airport to watch the playoff and see his son step into golf history.

“Me and my dad have been through it all, and I couldn’t think of someone more special to share this with. It’s just been the best day ever. I mean, I’m on the DP World Tour. That’s outrageous. I’m going to be playing around the world against some of the best players in the world. And I’m playing in The Open. It’s a dream,” said Naidoo.

South Africa’s Darren Fichardt and England’s Marco Penge were the other two players to also secure a place in The Open through the Investec South African Open’s status as part of the Open Qualifying Series.

South Africa’s Christiaan Maas finished as the leading amateur and winner of the Freddie Tait Cup for the second time in his career, ending the tournament on 12 under par overall.

It was indeed a day for dreams, the biggest of which no doubt belonged to Naidoo.

“I felt like I had nothing to lose in the playoff. I just wanted to go out there and have fun and do it. To have my name on the Investec SA Open trophy is unbelievable. It’s like a fairytale,” he said. – Michael Vlismas

DURBAN (KwaZulu-Natal) –  Dylan Naidoo walked onto Durban Country Club’s 18^th green and threw his arms up as Durban’s golf fans stood on their feet cheering the young South African who shares the lead with England’s Laurie Canter in the Investec South African Open.

In near darkness and with the field having finally caught up the suspensions caused by the heavy rain earlier in the week, Naidoo parred the last for a 71 and a share of the lead with Canter on 14 under par. Canter signed for a solid 68 on a windy and tricky day at Durban Country Club.

“I felt like Tiger Woods out there. It was outrageous. I had crowds that were five deep following me. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. It was just like an overflow of emotion. I’m ready for everything the final round has in store,” said Naidoo, who is chasing a maiden DP World Tour victory after coming close with a runner-up finish in December’s AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

Naidoo and Canter will go into Sunday’s final round one shot clear of England’s Marco Penge, while former Investec South African Open champion Branden Grace, Darren Fichardt and amateur Christiaan Maas are currently tied fourth on 12 under par.

But Saturday’s wind was a true showcase of the changes made to this venerable golf course and where its real strengths lie.

“It was a Test match out there. It was really difficult with the wind swirling, and it really was a case of patience and grinding,” said Naidoo.

Canter felt the same as he opened with a double bogey and then had to dig deep to get his challenge back on track.

“The golf course was a different animal in the wind. It was so much fun to play and such a great test. I like seeing the course with wind because I think that’s how it’s meant to play,” said Canter, who is looking for a double after winning the 2010 South African Amateur.

And just two shots back, Grace has a second Investec South African Open in his sights.

“It was just so amazing to see the crowds out there. I love this place and I’m looking forward to the final round,” he said.

Maas has easily wrapped up the Freddie Tait Cup for leading amateur as he also heads into the final round just two shots off the leaders. – Michael Vlismas

DURBAN (KwaZulu-Natal) – England’s Sam Bairstow and Sweden’s Fredrik From were simply delighted to be able to tee off their first rounds of the Investec South African Open, never mind share the clubhouse lead by the end of the first day at Durban Country Club on Thursday.

It required a monumental effort by the course maintenance staff and the eThekwini Municipality to take what was a waterlogged golf course following a deluge of rain the day before, and work through the night for an almost miraculous transformation of this layout, with only a three hour delay of the tee times.

Bairstow and From took full advantage and opened with rounds of seven-under-par 65 to lead, while South Africa’s Darren Fichardt was also on seven under with four holes to play when darkness forced a suspension of play. The delayed start means the first round will have to be completed on Friday morning, with play scheduled to resume at 08:00.

South Africa’s Jayden Schaper, Scotland’s Richie Ramsay, India’s Shubhankar Sharma, China’s Haotong Li and England’s Todd Clements all finished the day on six under par.

But for Bairstow and From, and indeed every professional in the field, it was a miracle that they could even tee off on Thursday.

“The day before I thought there would be no chance of playing, especially seeing the water on 16^th hole. But all credit to the maintenance staff for getting the course playable. They did an unbelievable job,” said Bairstow.

“I couldn’t believe it this morning when they didn’t call it off, to be honest. They must have worked the whole night pumping hundreds of thousands of litres of water. They did a great job,” added From.

Both players did well to drop only one shot in their rounds, while From added two eagles during his 65 on the par-five third and 10^th holes.

“I hit them both pretty close so it wasn’t too much work. My driver was working very well and it’s the kind of golf course where a good driving game can give you opportunities,” said the man who plays under a Swedish flag but who feels entirely at home in South Africa having spent so many years competing on the Sunshine Tour.

“It’s like I’m representing two flags here this week. For that reason it would be great to win,” he said.

Behind them, Ramsay has put himself in a great position to claim a second Investec South African Open title following his triumph in 2009.

And Schaper has also made a strong claim on this title following a few close finishes in the past. He finished tied sixth while still an amateur in the 2020 Investec South African Open, and also had finishes of tied ninth in 2022 and tied fifth in 2023.

“I’ve got a lot of good memories in this tournament. It’s just one that you want to do well in as our home Open, and this is a great venue for it this week,” said Schaper.

Bryan Newman and Christiaan Maas are currently the leading amateurs on one under par but still to complete their first rounds.

Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, has praised the outstanding work of the Durban Country Club course maintenance staff and the eThekwini Municipality in working throughout the night to get the course ready for Thursday’s first round of the Investec South African Open.

Heavy rain had left the golf course waterlogged on the eve of this year’s championship. But after an incredible effort by the club and municipality, the first round was able to tee off on Thursday.

“On behalf of the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour and all our professionals, we are extremely grateful to all parties for their outstanding efforts to enable us to start the first round today. They worked through the night and against the odds, and what they achieved is nothing short of remarkable. We are truly grateful for such an inspiring team effort. Thank you,” said Abt.

The start of the first round of the Investec South African Open has been delayed until 09:20 due to heavy rain and a waterlogged Durban Country Club course. All public facilities will be open from 08:00. For further updates, please follow our social media channels.

There will be everything to play for at this year’s Joburg Open as the R20.5 million tournament takes its place at a critical part of both the Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour season at Houghton Golf Club from 6-9 March.

The Joburg Open is the final tournament on the DP World Tour’s International Swing, with England’s Laurie Canter set to tee it up at Houghton as he seeks to secure victory on this Swing and the US$200 000 bonus as well as qualification for some of the DP World Tour’s most lucrative tournaments later in the season.

The Joburg Open will also be the final tournament before the Sunshine Tour’s new The Courier Guy Playoffs, and is therefore the last opportunity to unlock a wealth of incentives at the end the season.

At the conclusion of the Joburg Open, the leading 72 players on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy will qualify for the first playoff tournament – the Serengeti Invitational from 20-23 March at Serengeti Estates where they will compete for R2.5 million in prize money.

Thereafter the top 50 players on the Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy will qualify to play in the season-ending DNi Tour Championship at The Club at Steyn City from 27-30 March, with a total purse of R3 million.

At the end of The Courier Guy Playoffs, the top three professionals on the final Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy will all receive DP World Tour cards for the following season.

The first-place finisher will also receive exemptions into the Nedbank Golf Challenge as well as two Majors – The Open Championship and US PGA Championship – and a R500 000 cash bonus. Second place will earn a R200 000 cash bonus, while the third-place finisher will earn a R100 000 bonus.

Daniel van Tonder, currently first on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy, and Shaun Norris, currently second, will both tee it up at the Joburg Open in their ongoing battle for the number one spot at the end of the season.

The leading golfer on the Fortress Rookie of the Year standings at the end of the season will also be rewarded with a R200 000 cash bonus. – Michael Vlismas

Tickets for the Joburg Open are available at https://sunshinetour.com/tickets

DURBAN (KwaZulu-Natal) – Dean Burmester said it best when he looked out over Durban Country Club and the spectacular staging ahead of this week’s Investec South African Open and declared, “I feel incredibly proud”.

It is indeed a proud moment for Burmester to return as the defending champion of the Investec South African Open. It’s an equally proud moment for South African golf as the revamped Durban Country Club welcomes back a championship that this course has hosted more than any other, and with it this year forming part of the Open Qualifying Series with the leading three players not already exempt for the Major earning a place in The Open at Royal Portrush.

A quality field of Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour players have assembled in Durban to contest for a place in history. A place Burmester is happy to have taken with his own victory in this event.

“I’m just proud to be the defending champion and to stand here as a South African having lifted that trophy. I have my name alongside so many great champions of this event. I’m proud to be here and I’m proud to put up a defence of this special championship,” he said.

“It’s a good field this week, and it’s great that our Open – the second oldest national Open in the world – can draw a field like this. The course has changed a lot since last I played here in 2013. They’ve put in a burn on the back nine which comes into play a lot. They’ve opened up a lot of the bush areas and that’s let the rough grow. You have to be really precise. We’ll get some wind and rain this week so it will be all about managing emotions and conditions and then we’ll see what happens.”

The field is an intriguing mix including three of the top five on the current DP World Tour Race to Dubai Rankings in John Parry, Laurie Canter and Shaun Norris, and every one of the top five on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit delivered by The Courier Guy. It has a mix of local and international former champions such as Branden Grace, Brandon Stone, Daniel van Tonder and Hennie Otto, as well as England’s Chris Paisley and Andy Sullivan. It has GolfRSA’s leading amateurs such as Jordan Burnand, Christiaan Maas, Astin Arthur, Bryan Newman and Charl Barnard. It will showcase the hope of the Sunshine Tour’s Papwa Sewgolum Class for transformation professionals, with Tristin Galant given an Investec invitation to compete this week. And it will feature players such as Charl Schwartzel who has come close in this championship before and wants to also add his name to the list of greats on this trophy.

“These days, any week you tee it up, there is great competition out there. But it’s good. This is our flagship event on the Sunshine Tour, and returning to an iconic venue like this is great. Coming back to this championship as a former winner gives you that goosebump feeling when you walk in here,” said Grace. – Michael Vlismas

Tickets are available to buy at www.sunshinetour.com

As the headline sponsor of the Investec SA Open, Investec is dedicated to elevating local talent and showcasing South African golf talent on the international stage.

Jonsson Workwear is the official workwear partner of the Investec South African Open and the Sunshine Tour, joining other partners such as Hyundai, The Courier Guy, CIRCA, Airlink and Provantage as major brands supporting the national Open.

The Municipality of eThekwini is proud to have Durban as the Host City of the 2025 Investec South African Open.

JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng – The Hyundai Open driven by the Palisade tournament has been abandoned due to the inclement weather which made the Royal Johannesburg East Course unplayable. 

The tournament will count towards events played for players who have remained entered until the event has been called off in the current season.

The Hyundai Open driven by the Palisade will be rescheduled in the new season at Royal Johannesburg’s East Course on a date to be confirmed.