South African Open (golf)

Investec South African Open Championship
Tournament information
LocationDurban, South Africa
Established1903
Course(s)Durban Country Club
Par72
Length6,780 yards (6,200 m)
Tour(s)European Tour
Asian Tour
Sunshine Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$1,500,000
Month playedDecember
Tournament record score
Aggregate263 Branden Grace (2020)
To par−24 Ernie Els (2006)
Current champion
Dylan Naidoo
Location map
Durban CC
Location in South Africa
Durban CC
Location in KwaZulu-Natal

The South African Open is one of the oldest national open golf championships in the world, having first been played in 1903, and is one of the principal tournaments on the Southern-Africa-based Sunshine Tour. Since 1997 it has also been co-sanctioned by the European Tour.

History

The first formal event was organised in 1903, following a series of exhibition matches that had been held over the preceding ten years. The championship was initially contested over just 36 holes until 1908, when it was extended to become a 72-hole tournament.[1] Although non-whites had played in the South African Open before, most notably when Papwa Sewgolum finished second in 1963, it was not until 1972 that black golfers were allowed to compete.[2]

From 2011 until February 2020 it was held in the Johannesburg area; twice at Serengeti Golf Club, followed by five times at Glendower Golf Club, and then twice at Randpark Golf Club. In December 2020 it will move away from Johannesburg and be held at Gary Player Country Club in Sun City.

Gary Player has been the most successful player in the tournament's history, with 13 victories over four decades between 1956 and 1981. Bobby Locke won nine titles, Sid Brews won eight titles, and George Fotheringham won the event five times as did Ernie Els.

In December 2018, the event became part of the Open Qualifying Series, giving up to three non-exempt players entry into The Open Championship.

The 2021 event was scheduled to be a co-sanctioned event between the European Tour and the Sunshine Tour. However due to COVID-19 travel restrictions in place in the UK from South Africa, the event was revised as a sole-sanctioned Sunshine Tour event.[3]

Flagship event

From 1999 to 2016, the tournament was the Sunshine Tour's flagship event for the purposes of the Official World Golf Ranking, earning a minimum of 32 OWGR points for the winner. It was replaced as the flagship event for 2017 by the Alfred Dunhill Championship before regaining its status the following year.[4] In 2020, the Alfred Dunhill Championship once again replaced the South African Open as the tour's flagship event.[5] In 2021, the Alfred Dunhill Championship was scheduled to be the flagship event for the second consecutive year. However due to the cancellation of the tournament, the South African Open regained its flagship event status for the first time since the January 2020 event.[6]

Winners

Sunshine Tour (Flagship event) 1999–2016, 2018–2020 (Jan), 2021
Sunshine Tour (Regular) 1972–1998, 2017, 2020 (Dec), 2022–
Pre-Sunshine Tour 1903–1971
# Year Tour(s)[a] Winner[b] Score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up[b] Venue Ref.
Investec South African Open Championship
114th 2025 AFR, EUR Dylan Naidoo 202[c] −14 Playoff Laurie Canter Durban
2024: No tournament
113th 2023 AFR, EUR Dean Burmester 277 −11 3 strokes Renato Paratore
Jesper Svensson
Ryan van Velzen		 Blair Atholl
112th 2022 AFR, EUR Thriston Lawrence 272 −16 1 stroke Clément Sordet Blair Atholl
SA Open Championship
111th 2021 AFR, EUR[d] Daniel van Tonder 272 −16 1 stroke Oliver Bekker Gary Player
South African Open
110th 2020
(Dec)		 AFR, EUR Christiaan Bezuidenhout 270 −18 5 strokes Jamie Donaldson Gary Player
109th 2020
(Jan)		 AFR, EUR Branden Grace 263 −21 3 strokes Louis Oosthuizen Randpark
2019: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January
108th 2018
(Dec)		 AFR, ASA, EUR Louis Oosthuizen 266 −18 6 strokes Romain Langasque Randpark
BMW SA Open
107th 2018
(Jan)		 AFR, EUR Chris Paisley 267 −21 3 strokes Branden Grace Glendower
106th 2017 AFR, EUR Graeme Storm 270 −18 Playoff[e] Rory McIlroy Glendower [8]
105th 2016 AFR, EUR Brandon Stone 274 −14 2 strokes Christiaan Bezuidenhout Glendower
South African Open Championship
104th 2015 AFR, EUR Andy Sullivan 277 −11 Playoff[f] Charl Schwartzel Glendower [9]
2014: No tournament due to rescheduling from November to January
103rd 2013 AFR, EUR Morten Ørum Madsen 269 −19 2 strokes Jbe' Kruger
Hennie Otto		 Glendower
SA Open Championship
102nd 2012 AFR, EUR Henrik Stenson 271 −17 3 strokes George Coetzee Serengeti
101st 2011 AFR, EUR Hennie Otto 274 −14 1 stroke Bernd Wiesberger Serengeti
South African Open Championship
100th 2010 AFR, EUR Ernie Els (5) 263[g] −25[g] 1 stroke Retief Goosen Durban
99th 2009 AFR, EUR Richie Ramsay 275 −13 Playoff[h] Shiv Kapur Pearl Valley [10]
98th 2008 AFR, EUR Richard Sterne 274 −14 Playoff[i] Gareth Maybin Pearl Valley [11]
South African Airways Open
97th 2007 AFR, EUR James Kingston 284 −4 1 stroke Oliver Wilson Pearl Valley
96th 2006 AFR, EUR Ernie Els (4) 264 −24 3 strokes Trevor Immelman Humewood
95th 2005
(Dec)		 AFR, EUR Retief Goosen (2) 282 −10 1 stroke Ernie Els Fancourt
94th 2005
(Jan)		 AFR, EUR Tim Clark (2) 273 −15 6 strokes Grégory Havret
Charl Schwartzel		 Durban
93rd 2004 AFR, EUR Trevor Immelman (2) 276 −12 3 strokes Alastair Forsyth
Steve Webster		 Erinvale
92nd 2003 AFR, EUR Trevor Immelman 274 −14 Playoff[j] Tim Clark Erinvale [12]
Bell's South African Open
91st 2002 AFR, EUR Tim Clark 269 −19 2 strokes Steve Webster The Country Club [13]
Mercedes-Benz South African Open
90th 2001 AFR, EUR Mark McNulty (2) 280 −8 1 stroke Justin Rose East London
89th 2000 AFR, EUR Mathias Grönberg 274 −14 1 stroke Darren Fichardt
Ricardo González
Nick Price		 Randpark
Mercedes-Benz - Vodacom South African Open
88th 1999 AFR, EUR David Frost (2) 279 −5 1 stroke Scott Dunlap
Jeev Milkha Singh		 Stellenbosch
South African Open
87th 1998 AFR, EUR Ernie Els (3) 273 −15 3 strokes David Frost Durban
86th 1997 AFR, EUR Vijay Singh 270 −18 1 stroke Nick Price Glendower
Phillips South African Open
85th 1996 AFR Ernie Els (2) 275 −13 1 stroke Brenden Pappas Royal Cape
84th 1995 AFR Retief Goosen 275 −13 5 strokes Ernie Els Randpark
1994: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January
83rd 1993
(Dec)		 AFR Tony Johnstone (2) 267 −21 7 strokes Ernie Els Durban
82nd 1993
(Feb)		 AFR Clinton Whitelaw 279 −9 2 strokes Retief Goosen Glendower
Protea Assurance South African Open
81st 1992 AFR Ernie Els 273 −15 3 strokes Derek James Houghton
80th 1991 AFR Wayne Westner (2) 272 −16 4 strokes Mark James
Tony Johnstone		 Durban
79th 1990 AFR Trevor Dodds 285 −3 1 stroke Hugh Royer III Royal Cape [14]
78th 1989 AFR Fred Wadsworth 278 −10 1 stroke Tom Lehman Glendower
Southern Suns South African Open
77th 1988 AFR Wayne Westner 275 −13 2 strokes Ian Mosey Durban [15]
76th 1987 AFR Mark McNulty 278 −10 Playoff[k] Fulton Allem Mowbray [16][17]
75th 1986 AFR David Frost 275 −13 3 strokes Tony Johnstone Royal Johannesburg [18]
South African Open
74th 1985 AFR Gavan Levenson 280 −8 3 strokes Phil Simmons Royal Durban [19]
73rd 1984 AFR Tony Johnstone 274 −14 3 strokes Fulton Allem Houghton
72nd 1983 AFR Charlie Bolling 278 −10 1 stroke Tertius Claassens Royal Cape [20]
1982: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January
Datsun South African Open
71st 1981 AFR Gary Player (13) 272 −16 Playoff[l] John Bland
Warren Humphreys		 Royal Johannesburg [21]
70th 1980 AFR Bobby Cole (2) 279 −9 4 strokes Mark McNulty Durban [22]
British Airways/Yellow Pages South African Open
69th 1979 AFR Gary Player (12) 279 −9 1 stroke Ian Mosey Houghton [23]
Yellow Pages South African Open
68th 1978 AFR Hugh Baiocchi 285 −3 1 stroke Gavan Levenson Mowbray [24]
67th 1977 AFR Gary Player (11) 273 −15 3 strokes Bobby Cole
Dale Hayes		 Royal Johannesburg
66th 1976
(Nov)		 AFR Gary Player (10) 280 −8 6 strokes David Suddards (a)
Bobby Verwey		 Durban [25]
BP South African Open
65th 1976
(Jan)		 AFR Dale Hayes 287 −1 Playoff[m] John Fourie Houghton [26]
64th 1975 AFR Gary Player (9) 278 −10 6 strokes Allan Henning Mowbray [27]
South African Open
63rd 1974 AFR Bobby Cole 272 −16 4 strokes Allan Henning Royal Johannesburg [28]
BP South African Open
62nd 1973 AFR Bob Charles 282 −6 3 strokes Vin Baker
Bobby Cole
Graham Marsh		 Durban [29]
South African Open
61st 1972 AFR Gary Player (8) 274 −18 1 stroke Bobby Cole Royal Johannesburg [30]
60th 1971 Simon Hobday 276 −12 1 stroke Gary Player Mowbray [31]
59th 1970 Tommy Horton 285 3 strokes Terry Westbrook Royal Durban
58th 1969 Gary Player (7) 273 6 strokes Trevor Wilkes Durban
57th 1968 Gary Player (6) 274 7 strokes Cobie Legrange Houghton
56th 1967 Gary Player (5) 279 3 strokes Allan Henning
Mike Hoyle		 East London
55th 1966 Gary Player (4) 278 1 stroke Harold Henning
Cobie Legrange		 Houghton
54th 1965 Gary Player (3) 273 3 strokes John Hayes Royal Cape
1964: No tournament due to two events in 1963
53rd 1963
(Dec)		 Allan Henning 278 2 strokes Bruce Keyter Bloemfontein
52nd 1963
(Mar)		 Retief Waltman (2) 281 1 stroke Sewsunker Sewgolum Durban
51st 1962 Harold Henning (2) 285 1 stroke Denis Hutchinson Houghton
50th 1961 Retief Waltman 289 8 strokes Barry Franklin (a) East London
49th 1960 Gary Player (2) 280 7 strokes Harold Henning
Tommy Trevena		 Mowbray
48th 1959 Denis Hutchinson (a) 282 1 stroke Gary Player Royal Johannesburg
47th 1958 Arthur Stewart (a) 281 1 stroke Bobby Locke Bloemfontein
46th 1957 Harold Henning 289 Playoff[n] Sandy Guthrie Humewood
45th 1956 Gary Player 286 3 strokes Bruce Keyter Durban
44th 1955 Bobby Locke (9) 283 1 stroke Reg Taylor Zwartkop
43rd 1954 Reg Taylor (a) 289 2 strokes Jannie le Roux (a) East London
42nd 1953 Jimmy Boyd (a) 302 Playoff[o] Otway Hayes Royal Cape
41st 1952 Sid Brews (8) 305 1 stroke Sandy Guthrie Humewood
40th 1951 Bobby Locke (8) 277 9 strokes Jimmy Boyd (a)
Harry Bradshaw		 Houghton
39th 1950 Bobby Locke (7) 280 11 strokes Sandy Guthrie Durban
38th 1949 Sid Brews (7) 291 3 strokes Eric Moore Maccauvlei
37th 1948 Mickey Janks (a) 298 Playoff[p] Sandy Guthrie East London
36th 1947 Ronnie Glennie (a) 293 1 stroke Eric Moore Mowbray
35th 1946 Bobby Locke (6) 285 14 strokes Steve Boshoff (a) Royal Johannesburg
1941–1945: No tournament due to World War II
34th 1940 Bobby Locke (5) 293 10 strokes Steve Boshoff (a) Port Elizabeth
33rd 1939 Bobby Locke (4) 279 8 strokes Maurice Bodmer (a)
Clarence Olander (a)		 Durban
32nd 1938 Bobby Locke (3) 279 5 strokes Sid Brews Maccauvlei
31st 1937 Bobby Locke (a) (2) 288 11 strokes Clarence Olander (a) East London
30th 1936 Clarence Olander (a) 297 Playoff[q] J Robertson Royal Cape
29th 1935 Bobby Locke (a) 296 3 strokes Jock Verwey (a) Parkview
28th 1934 Sid Brews (6) 319 7 strokes Jock Verwey (a) Humewood
27th 1933 Sid Brews (5) 297 3 strokes Charles McIlvenny Maccauvlei
26th 1932 Charles McIlvenny 304 4 strokes Bob Grimsdell Mowbray
25th 1931 Sid Brews (4) 302 3 strokes Bob Grimsdell
Charles McIlvenny		 Port Elizabeth
24th 1930 Sid Brews (3) 297 11 strokes Jock Brews East London
23rd 1929 Archie Tosh 315 1 stroke Jock Brews Royal Cape
22nd 1928 Jock Brews (4) 297 1 stroke Sid Brews Durban
21st 1927 Sid Brews (2) 301 5 strokes Bert Elkin
Charles McIlvenny		 Maccauvlei
20th 1926 Jock Brews (3) 301 9 strokes Bert Elkin Port Elizabeth
19th 1925 Sid Brews 295 3 strokes Jock Brews Johannesburg
18th 1924 Bert Elkin 316 9 strokes Jock Brews
Sid Brews		 Durban
17th 1923 Jock Brews (2) 315 1 stroke Archie Tosh Royal Cape
16th 1922 Fred Jangle 310 7 strokes Jock Brews Port Alfred
15th 1921 Jock Brews 316 3 strokes Archie Tosh Port Elizabeth
14th 1920 Laurie Waters (4) 302 2 strokes Bert Elkin Johannesburg
13th 1919 William Horne 320 9 strokes Hugh Gordon Stewart (a) Durban
1915–1918: No tournament due to World War I
12th 1914 George Fotheringham (5) 299 20 strokes Jock Brews Royal Cape
11th 1913 Jimmy Prentice (a) 304 2 strokes Willie Binnie
Jack Fotheringham		 Kimberley
10th 1912 George Fotheringham (4) 305 10 strokes Laurie Waters Potchefstroom
9th 1911 George Fotheringham (3) 301 11 strokes David Guthrie Durban
8th 1910 George Fotheringham (2) 315 5 strokes Arthur Gray Royal Cape
7th 1909 Jack Fotheringham 306 2 strokes George Fotheringham Potchefstroom
6th 1908 George Fotheringham 294 9 strokes Laurie Waters Port Elizabeth
5th 1907 Laurie Waters (3) 147[r] 5 strokes Walter Day Jr Kimberley
4th 1906 Arthur Gray (2) 151 3 strokes H. F. Watson (a) East London
3rd 1905 Arthur Gray Playoff[s] George Fotheringham Garrison Club
2nd 1904 Laurie Waters (2) 143 4 strokes Arthur Gray Johannesburg
1st 1903 Laurie Waters 163 3 strokes J. W. Stewart Port Elizabeth

Source:[1][32]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ AFR − Sunshine Tour; ASA − Asian Tour; EUR − European Tour.
  2. ^ a b (a) – Amateur
  3. ^ Shortened to 54 holes due to rain.
  4. ^ Due to impending COVID-19 related travel restrictions in and out of South Africa affecting the makeup of the field, the event was removed from the European Tour schedule. It proceeded as a sole-sanctioned Sunshine Tour event.[7]
  5. ^ Storm won with a par on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  6. ^ Sullivan won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  7. ^ a b Unofficial scoring record as the 4th hole was unplayable during the 3rd and 4th rounds due to heavy rain. For scoring purposes, all players were deemed to have recorded a par for the hole.
  8. ^ Ramsay won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  9. ^ Sterne won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  10. ^ Immelman won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  11. ^ McNulty won on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  12. ^ Player defeated Bland with a birdie on the third hole of sudden-death after both had tied with 2 under-par 70s after an 18-hole playoff; Humphreys returned a level-par 72 in the playoff.
  13. ^ Hayes won following an 18-hole playoff; Hayes 69, Fourie 72.
  14. ^ Henning won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 144 to Guthrie's 146.
  15. ^ Boyd won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 162 to Hayes 163.
  16. ^ Janks won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 147 to Guthrie's 153.
  17. ^ Olander won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 146 to Robertson's 151.
  18. ^ Some sources have Waters score as 146.
  19. ^ Gray won the playoff by a stroke with a score of 151.

References

  1. ^ a b "SA Amateur & Open". South African Golf Association. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  2. ^ "South African Open Championship History and Highlights". South African Open Championship. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
  3. ^ "Irish golfers battling travel chaos to get back from South Africa after pulling out of Joburg Open". Irish Independent. 26 November 2021.
  4. ^ "SA Open receives world ranking flagship status". News 24. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  5. ^ "How the ranking evolved". Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  6. ^ Sherman, Michael (1 December 2021). "SA Open goes ahead without co-sanctioned status for first time in 25 years". IOL. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  7. ^ "Irish golfers battling travel chaos to get back from South Africa after pulling out of Joburg Open". Irish Independent. 26 November 2021.
  8. ^ "South African Open: Graeme Storm beats Rory McIlroy in play-off to win title". BBC Sport. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Andy Sullivan wins South African Open for first European Tour title". BBC Sport. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  10. ^ Bisset, Fergus (20 December 2009). "Richie Ramsay wins South African Open Championship". Golf Monthly. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  11. ^ Bisset, Fergus (21 December 2008). "Richard Sterne Wins South African Open Championship". Golf Monthly. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  12. ^ "For Immelman, 'greatest way to start the year'". ESPN. Associated Press. 12 January 2003. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Bell's South African Open 2002". European Tour. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  14. ^ McCormack, Mark H. (1991). The World of Professional Golf 1991. Chapmans. p. 495. ISBN 1855925583.
  15. ^ "Switch in time a knock-out for Darcy". The Glasgow Herald. 1 February 1988. p. 9. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  16. ^ "Mark McNulty". The Glasgow Herald. 9 February 1987. p. 10. Retrieved 21 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  17. ^ McCormack, Mark H. (1988). Ebel World of Professional Golf 1988. Collins Willow. pp. 220, 439–440. ISBN 0002182831.
  18. ^ "David Frost". The Glasgow Herald. 10 February 1987. p. 11. Retrieved 21 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  19. ^ "Golf". The Guardian. 28 January 1985. p. 23. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Golf". The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 January 1983. Retrieved 1 August 2021.
  21. ^ "Player makes it a lucky thirteenth". The Glasgow Herald. 7 December 1981. p. 16. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  22. ^ "Palmer senior champ". The Montreal Gazette. 8 December 1980. p. 19. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  23. ^ "Weekend sport in brief | Golf". The Glasgow Herald. 10 December 1979. p. 19. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  24. ^ "South African Open". The Montreal Gazette. 11 December 1978. p. 38. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  25. ^ "Gary wins record 10th open". The Age. 29 November 1975. p. 24. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  26. ^ "Hayes triumphs in play-off". The Glasgow Herald. 3 February 1976. p. 23. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  27. ^ "Its the Player habit". The Age. 3 February 1975. p. 25. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  28. ^ "Cole wins SA Open". The Glasgow Herald. 4 February 1974. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  29. ^ Jacobs, Raymond (5 February 1973). "Revised Charles swing again pays dividends". The Glasgow Herald. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  30. ^ "Player wins by one stroke". The Glasgow Herald. 14 February 1972. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  31. ^ "Hobday holds off Player". The Glasgow Herald. 15 February 1971. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  32. ^ The Allied Book of South African Sport & Sports Records. SASBOR. 1988. pp. 1941–1949. ISBN 0620128828 – via Google Books.

25°20′21″S 27°06′23″E / 25.339275°S 27.106319°E / -25.339275; 27.106319

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