South African Open (golf)

The South African Open Championship 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.

SA Open Championship
Tournament information
LocationSun City, South Africa
Established1903
Course(s)Gary Player Country Club
Par72
Length7,832 yards (7,162 m)
Tour(s)Sunshine Tour
European Tour
Asian Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundUS$500,000
Month playedDecember
Tournament record score
Aggregate263 Branden Grace (2020)
To par−24 Ernie Els (2006)
Current champion
Daniel van Tonder
Location Map
Gary Player CC
Location in South Africa
Gary Player CC
Location in North West

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)
Pre-Sunshine Tour1903–1971
#YearTour(s)[lower-alpha 1]WinnerScoreTo parMargin of
victory		Runner(s)-upVenueRef.
SA Open Championship
111th 2021AFR, EUR[lower-alpha 2] Daniel van Tonder272−161 stroke Oliver BekkerGary Player
South African Open
110th 2020
(Dec)		AFR, EUR Christiaan Bezuidenhout270−185 strokes Jamie DonaldsonGary Player
South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg
109th 2020
(Jan)		AFR, EUR Branden Grace263−213 strokes Louis OosthuizenRandpark
2019: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January
108th 2018
(Dec)		AFR, ASA, EUR Louis Oosthuizen266−186 strokes Romain LangasqueRandpark
BMW SA Open
107th 2018
(Jan)		AFR, EUR Chris Paisley267−213 strokes Branden GraceGlendower
106th 2017AFR, EUR Graeme Storm270−18Playoff[lower-alpha 3] Rory McIlroyGlendower[8]
105th 2016AFR, EUR Brandon Stone274−142 strokes Christiaan BezuidenhoutGlendower
South African Open Championship
104th 2015AFR, EUR Andy Sullivan277−11Playoff[lower-alpha 4] Charl SchwartzelGlendower[9]
2014: No tournament due to rescheduling from November to January
103rd 2013AFR, EUR Morten Ørum Madsen269−192 strokes Jbe' Kruger
Hennie Otto		Glendower
SA Open Championship
102nd 2012AFR, EUR Henrik Stenson271−173 strokes George CoetzeeSerengeti
101st 2011AFR, EUR Hennie Otto274−141 stroke Bernd WiesbergerSerengeti
South African Open Championship
100th 2010AFR, EUR Ernie Els (5)263[lower-alpha 5]−25[lower-alpha 5]1 stroke Retief GoosenDurban
99th 2009AFR, EUR Richie Ramsay275−13Playoff[lower-alpha 6] Shiv KapurPearl Valley[10]
98th 2008AFR, EUR Richard Sterne274−14Playoff[lower-alpha 7] Gareth MaybinPearl Valley[11]
South African Airways Open
97th 2007AFR, EUR James Kingston284−41 stroke Oliver WilsonPearl Valley
96th 2006AFR, EUR Ernie Els (4)264−243 strokes Trevor ImmelmanHumewood
95th 2005
(Dec)		AFR, EUR Retief Goosen (2)282−101 stroke Ernie ElsFancourt
94th 2005
(Jan)		AFR, EUR Tim Clark (2)273−156 strokes Grégory Havret
Charl Schwartzel		Durban
93rd 2004AFR, EUR Trevor Immelman (2)276−123 strokes Alastair Forsyth
Steve Webster		Erinvale
92nd 2003AFR, EUR Trevor Immelman274−14Playoff[lower-alpha 8] Tim ClarkErinvale[12]
Bell's South African Open
91st 2002AFR, EUR Tim Clark269−192 strokes Steve WebsterThe Country Club
Mercedes-Benz South African Open
90th 2001AFR, EUR Mark McNulty (2)280−81 stroke Justin RoseEast London
89th 2000AFR, EUR Mathias Grönberg274−141 stroke Darren Fichardt
Ricardo González
Nick Price		Randpark
Mercedes-Benz - Vodacom South African Open
88th 1999AFR, EUR David Frost (2)279−51 stroke Scott Dunlap
Jeev Milkha Singh		Stellenbosch
South African Open
87th 1998AFR, EUR Ernie Els (3)273−153 strokes David FrostDurban
86th 1997AFR, EUR Vijay Singh270−181 stroke Nick PriceGlendower
Phillips South African Open
85th 1996AFR Ernie Els (2)275−131 stroke Brenden PappasRoyal Cape
84th 1995AFR Retief Goosen275−135 strokes Ernie ElsRandpark
1994: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January
83rd 1993
(Dec)		AFR Tony Johnstone (2)267−217 strokes Ernie ElsDurban
82nd 1993
(Feb)		AFR Clinton Whitelaw279−92 strokes Retief GoosenGlendower
Protea Assurance South African Open
81st 1992AFR Ernie Els273−153 strokes Derek JamesHoughton
80th 1991AFR Wayne Westner (2)272−164 strokes Mark James
Tony Johnstone		Durban
79th 1990AFR Trevor Dodds285−31 stroke Hugh Royer IIIRoyal Cape[13]
78th 1989AFR Fred Wadsworth278−101 stroke Tom LehmanGlendower
Southern Suns South African Open
77th 1988AFR Wayne Westner275−132 strokes Ian MoseyDurban[14]
76th 1987AFR Mark McNulty278−10Playoff[lower-alpha 9] Fulton AllemMowbray[15][16]
75th 1986AFR David Frost275−133 strokes Tony JohnstoneRoyal Johannesburg[17]
South African Open
74th 1985AFR Gavan Levenson280−83 strokes Phil SimmonsRoyal Durban[18]
73rd 1984AFR Tony Johnstone274−143 strokes Fulton AllemHoughton
72nd 1983AFR Charlie Bolling278−101 stroke Tertius ClaassensRoyal Cape[19]
1982: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January
Datson South African Open
71st 1981AFR Gary Player (13)272−16Playoff[lower-alpha 10] John Bland
Warren Humphreys		Royal Johannesburg[20]
70th 1980AFR Bobby Cole (2)279−94 strokes Mark McNultyDurban[21]
British Airways/Yellow Pages South African Open
69th 1979AFR Gary Player (12)279−91 stroke Ian MoseyHoughton[22]
Yellow Pages South African Open
68th 1978AFR Hugh Baiocchi285−31 stroke Gavan LevensonMowbray[23]
67th 1977AFR Gary Player (11)273−153 strokes Bobby Cole
Dale Hayes		Royal Johannesburg
66th 1976
(Nov)		AFR Gary Player (10)280−86 strokes David Suddards (a)
Bobby Verwey		Durban[24]
BP South African Open
65th 1976
(Feb)		AFR Dale Hayes287−1Playoff[lower-alpha 11] John FourieHoughton[25]
64th 1975AFR Gary Player (9)278−106 strokes Allan HenningMowbray[26]
South African Open Championship
63rd 1974AFR Bobby Cole272−164 strokes Allan HenningRoyal Johannesburg[27]
62nd 1973AFR Bob Charles282−63 strokes Vin Baker
Bobby Cole
Graham Marsh		Durban[28]
61st 1972AFR Gary Player (8)274−181 stroke Bobby ColeRoyal Johannesburg[29]
60th 1971 Simon Hobday276−121 stroke Gary PlayerMowbray[30]
59th 1970 Tommy Horton2853 strokes Terry WestbrookRoyal Durban
58th 1969 Gary Player (7)2736 strokes Trevor WilkesDurban
57th 1968 Gary Player (6)2747 strokes Cobie LegrangeHoughton
56th 1967 Gary Player (5)2793 strokes Allan Henning
Mike Hoyle		East London
55th 1966 Gary Player (4)2781 stroke Harold Henning
Cobie Legrange		Houghton
54th 1965 Gary Player (3)2733 strokes John HayesRoyal Cape
1964: No tournament due to two events in 1963
53rd 1963
(Dec)		 Allan Henning2782 strokes Bruce KeyterBloemfontein
52nd 1963
(Mar)		 Retief Waltman (2)2811 stroke Sewsunker SewgolumDurban
51st 1962 Harold Henning (2)2851 stroke Denis HutchinsonHoughton
50th 1961 Retief Waltman2898 strokes Barry Franklin (a)East London
49th 1960 Gary Player (2)2807 strokes Harold Henning
Tommy Trevena		Mowbray
48th 1959 Denis Hutchinson (a)2821 stroke Gary PlayerRoyal Johannesburg
47th 1958 Arthur Stewart2811 stroke Bobby LockeBloemfontein
46th 1957 Harold Henning289Playoff[lower-alpha 12] Sandy GuthrieHumewood
45th 1956 Gary Player2863 strokes Bruce KeyterDurban
44th 1955 Bobby Locke (9)2831 stroke Reg TaylorZwartkop
43rd 1954 Reg Taylor (a)2892 strokes Jannie le RouxEast London
42nd 1953 Jimmy Boyd302Playoff[lower-alpha 13] Otway HayesRoyal Cape
41st 1952 Sid Brews (8)3051 stroke Sandy GuthrieHumewood
40th 1951 Bobby Locke (8)2779 strokes Jimmy Boyd (a)
Harry Bradshaw		Houghton
39th 1950 Bobby Locke (7)28011 strokes Sandy GuthrieDurban
38th 1949 Sid Brews (7)2913 strokes Eric MooreMaccauvlei
37th 1948 Mickey Janks (a)298Playoff[lower-alpha 14] Sandy GuthrieEast London
36th 1947 Ronnie Glennie (a)2931 stroke Eric MooreMowbray
35th 1946 Bobby Locke (6)28514 strokesSteve Boshoff (a)Royal Johannesburg
1941–1945: No tournament due to World War II
34th 1940 Bobby Locke (5)29310 strokesSteve Boshoff (a)Port Elizabeth
33rd 1939 Bobby Locke (4)2798 strokesMaurice Bodmer (a)
Clarence Olander (a)		Durban
32nd 1938 Bobby Locke (3)2795 strokes Sid BrewsMaccauvlei
31st 1937 Bobby Locke (a) (2)28811 strokes Clarence Olander (a)East London
30th 1936 Clarence Olander (a)297Playoff[lower-alpha 15]J RobertsonRoyal Cape
29th 1935 Bobby Locke (a)2963 strokesJock Verwey (a)Parkview
28th 1934 Sid Brews (6)3197 strokesJock Verwey (a)Humewood
27th 1933 Sid Brews (5)2973 strokes Charles McIlvennyMaccauvlei
26th 1932 Charles McIlvenny3044 strokes Bob GrimsdellMowbray
25th 1931 Sid Brews (4)3023 strokes Bob Grimsdell
Charles McIlvenny		Port Elizabeth
24th 1930 Sid Brews (3)29711 strokes Jock BrewsEast London
23rd 1929 Archie Tosh3151 stroke Jock BrewsRoyal Cape
22nd 1928 Jock Brews (4)2971 stroke Sid BrewsDurban
21st 1927 Sid Brews (2)3015 strokes Bert Elkin
Charles McIlvenny		Maccauvlei
20th 1926 Jock Brews (3)3019 strokes Bert ElkinPort Elizabeth
19th 1925 Sid Brews2953 strokes Jock BrewsJohannesburg
18th 1924 Bert Elkin3169 strokes Jock Brews
Sid Brews		Durban
17th 1923 Jock Brews (2)3151 stroke Archie ToshRoyal Cape
16th 1922 Fred Jangle3107 strokes Jock BrewsPort Alfred
15th 1921 Jock Brews3163 strokes Archie ToshPort Elizabeth
14th 1920 Laurie Waters (4)3022 strokes Bert ElkinJohannesburg
13th 1919 William Horne3209 strokes Hugh Gordon Stewart (a)Durban
1915–1918: No tournament due to World War I
12th 1914 George Fotheringham (5)29920 strokes Jock BrewsRoyal Cape
11th 1913 Jimmy Prentice (a)3042 strokes Willie Binnie
Jack Fotheringham		Kimberley
10th 1912 George Fotheringham (4)30510 strokes Laurie WatersPotchefstroom
9th 1911 George Fotheringham (3)30111 strokes David GuthrieDurban
8th 1910 George Fotheringham (2)3155 strokes Arthur GrayRoyal Cape
7th 1909 Jack Fotheringham3062 strokes George FotheringhamPotchefstroom
6th 1908 George Fotheringham2949 strokes Laurie WatersPort Elizabeth
5th 1907 Laurie Waters (3)147[lower-alpha 16]5 strokes Walter Day JrKimberley
4th 1906 Arthur Gray (2)1513 strokesH. F. Watson (a)East London
3rd 1905 Arthur GrayPlayoff[lower-alpha 17] George FotheringhamGarrison Club
2nd 1904 Laurie Waters (2)1434 strokes Arthur GrayJohannesburg
1st 1903 Laurie Waters1633 strokesJ. W. StewartPort Elizabeth
  1. AFR − Sunshine Tour (previously known as the South(ern) Africa Tour/Vodacom Tour/FNB Tour/Sunshine Circuit); ASA − Asian Tour; EUR − European Tour.
  2. 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]
  3. Storm won with a par on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  4. Sullivan won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  5. 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.
  6. Ramsay won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  7. Sterne won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  8. Immelman won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  9. McNulty won on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.
  10. 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.
  11. Hayes won following an 18-hole playoff; Hayes 69, Fourie 72.
  12. Henning won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 144 to Guthrie's 146.
  13. Boyd won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 162 to Hayes 163.
  14. Janks won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 147 to Guthrie's 153.
  15. Olander won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 146 to Robertson's 151.
  16. Some sources have Waters score as 146.
  17. Gray won the playoff by a stroke with a score of 151.

(a) − Amateur
Source: [1][31]

Multiple winners

Eighteen men have won this tournament more than once through 2018.

WinsPlayerCountryYears won
13Gary Player South Africa1956, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981
9Bobby Locke South Africa1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1955
8Sid Brews South Africa1925, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1949, 1952
5George Fotheringham Scotland1908, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1914
5Ernie Els South Africa1992, 1996, 1998, 2006, 2010
4Laurie Waters South Africa1903, 1904, 1907, 1920
4Jock Brews South Africa1921, 1923, 1926, 1928
2Arthur Gray England1905, 1906
2Harold Henning South Africa1957, 1962
2Retief Waltman South Africa1961, 1963
2Bobby Cole South Africa1974, 1980
2Wayne Westner South Africa1988, 1991
2Tony Johnstone Zimbabwe1984, 1993 (Dec)
2David Frost South Africa1986, 1999
2Mark McNulty Zimbabwe1987, 2001
2Trevor Immelman South Africa2003, 2004
2Tim Clark South Africa2002, 2005 (Jan)
2Retief Goosen South Africa1995, 2005 (Dec)

References
  1. "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. McCormack, Mark H. (1991). The World of Professional Golf 1991. Chapmans. p. 495. ISBN 1855925583.
  14. "Switch in time a knock-out for Darcy". The Glasgow Herald. 1 February 1988. p. 9. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  15. "Mark McNulty". The Glasgow Herald. 9 February 1987. p. 10. Retrieved 21 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  16. McCormack, Mark H. (1988). Ebel World of Professional Golf 1988. Collins Willow. pp. 220, 439–440. ISBN 0002182831.
  17. "David Frost". The Glasgow Herald. 10 February 1987. p. 11. Retrieved 21 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  18. "Golf". The Guardian. 28 January 1985. p. 23. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. "Golf". The Sydney Morning Herald. 31 January 1983. Retrieved 1 August 2021.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. "Player makes it a lucky thirteenth". The Glasgow Herald. 7 December 1981. p. 16. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  21. "Palmer senior champ". The Montreal Gazette. 8 December 1980. p. 19. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  22. "Weekend sport in brief | Golf". The Glasgow Herald. 10 December 1979. p. 19. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  23. "South African Open". The Montreal Gazette. 11 December 1978. p. 38. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  24. "Gary wins record 10th open". The Age. 29 November 1975. p. 24. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  25. "Hayes triumphs in play-off". The Glasgow Herald. 3 February 1976. p. 23. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  26. "Its the Player habit". The Age. 3 February 1975. p. 25. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  27. "Cole wins SA Open". The Glasgow Herald. 4 February 1974. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  28. Jacobs, Raymond (5 February 1973). "Revised Charles swing again pays dividends". The Glasgow Herald. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  29. "Player wins by one stroke". The Glasgow Herald. 14 February 1972. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  30. "Hobday holds off Player". The Glasgow Herald. 15 February 1971. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
  31. The Allied Book of South African Sport & Sports Records. SASBOR. 1988. pp. 1941–1949. ISBN 0620128828 – via Google Books.

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