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.
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Tournament information | |
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Location | Sun City, South Africa |
Established | 1903 |
Course(s) | Gary Player Country Club |
Tour(s) | Sunshine Tour European Tour (1997–) Asian Tour (2018) |
Format | Stroke play |
Prize fund | R 19,500,000 |
Month played | December |
Tournament record score | |
Aggregate | 264 Ernie Els (2006) |
To par | −24 (as above) |
Current champion | |
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Location Map | |
![]() ![]() Gary Player CC Location in South Africa ![]() ![]() Gary Player CC Gary Player CC (North West (South African province)) |
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.[1] In 2020, the Alfred Dunhill Championship once again replaced the South African Open as the tour's flagship event.[2]
In December 2018, the event became part of the Open Qualifying Series, giving up to three non-exempt players entry into The Open Championship.
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.[3] 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.[4]
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.
Winners
Year[lower-alpha 1] | Tour[lower-alpha 2] | Winner[lower-alpha 3] | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up[lower-alpha 3] | Venue | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
South African Open | ||||||||
2020 (Dec) | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 270 | −18 | 5 strokes | ![]() | Gary Player CC | |
South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg | ||||||||
2020 (Jan) | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 263 | −21 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Randpark GC | |
2019 | No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | |||||||
2018 (Dec) | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 266 | −18 | 6 strokes | ![]() | Randpark GC | |
BMW SA Open | ||||||||
2018 (Jan) | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 267 | −21 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Glendower GC | |
2017 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 270 | −18 | Playoff[lower-alpha 4] | ![]() | Glendower GC | [5] |
2016 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 274 | −14 | 2 strokes | ![]() | Glendower GC | |
South African Open Championship | ||||||||
2015 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 277 | −11 | Playoff[lower-alpha 5] | ![]() | Glendower GC | [6] |
2014 | No tournament due to rescheduling from November to January | |||||||
2013 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 269 | −19 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() | Glendower GC | |
SA Open Championship | ||||||||
2012 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 271 | −17 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Serengeti GC | |
2011 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 274 | −14 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Serengeti GC | |
South African Open Championship | ||||||||
2010 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 263 | −25[lower-alpha 6] | 1 stroke | ![]() | Durban CC | |
2009 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 275 | −13 | Playoff[lower-alpha 7] | ![]() | Pearl Valley | [7] |
2008 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 274 | −14 | Playoff[lower-alpha 8] | ![]() | Pearl Valley | [8] |
South African Airways Open | ||||||||
2007 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 284 | −4 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Pearl Valley | |
2006 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 264 | −24 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Humewood GC | |
2005 (Dec) | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 282 | −10 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Fancourt | |
2005 (Jan) | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 273 | −15 | 6 strokes | ![]() ![]() | Durban CC | |
2004 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 276 | −12 | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() | Erinvale GC | |
2003 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 274 | −14 | Playoff[lower-alpha 9] | ![]() | Erinvale GC | [9] |
Bell's South African Open | ||||||||
2002 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 269 | −19 | 2 strokes | ![]() | The Country Club | |
Mercedes-Benz South African Open | ||||||||
2001 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 280 | −8 | 1 stroke | ![]() | East London GC | |
2000 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 274 | −14 | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Randpark GC | |
Mercedes-Benz – Vodacom South African Open | ||||||||
1999 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 279 | −5 | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() | Stellenbosch GC | |
South African Open | ||||||||
1998 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 273 | −15 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Durban CC | |
1997 | AFR, EUR | ![]() | 270 | −18 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Glendower GC | |
Phillips South African Open | ||||||||
1996 | AFR | ![]() | 275 | −13 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Royal Cape GC | |
1995 | AFR | ![]() | 275 | −13 | 5 strokes | ![]() | Randpark GC | |
1994 | No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | |||||||
1993 (Dec) | AFR | ![]() | 267 | −21 | 7 strokes | ![]() | Durban CC | |
1993 (Feb) | AFR | ![]() | 279 | −9 | 2 strokes | ![]() | Glendower GC | |
Protea Assurance South African Open | ||||||||
1992 | AFR | ![]() | 273 | −15 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Houghton GC | |
1991 | AFR | ![]() | 272 | −16 | 4 strokes | ![]() ![]() | Durban CC | |
1990 | AFR | ![]() | 285 | −3 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Royal Cape | [10] |
1989 | AFR | ![]() | 278 | −10 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Glendower | |
Southern Suns South African Open | ||||||||
1988 | AFR | ![]() | 275 | −13 | 2 strokes | ![]() | Durban CC | [11] |
1987 | AFR | ![]() | 278 | −10 | Playoff[lower-alpha 10] | ![]() | Mowbray | [12][13] |
1986 | AFR | ![]() | 275 | −13 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Royal Johannesburg | [14] |
South African Open Championship Title sponsors unknown 1983–1985 | ||||||||
1985 | AFR | ![]() | 280 | −8 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Royal Durban | [15] |
1984 | AFR | ![]() | 274 | −14 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Houghton | |
1983 | AFR | ![]() | 278 | −10 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Royal Cape | |
1982 | No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | |||||||
Datson South African Open | ||||||||
1981 | AFR | ![]() | 272 | −16 | Playoff[lower-alpha 11] | ![]() ![]() | Royal Johannesburg | [16] |
1980 | AFR | ![]() | 279 | −9 | 4 strokes | ![]() | Durban CC | [17] |
British Airways/Yellow Pages South African Open | ||||||||
1979 | AFR | ![]() | 279 | −9 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Houghton | [18] |
Yellow Pages South African Open | ||||||||
1978 | AFR | ![]() | 285 | −3 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Mowbray | [19] |
1977 | AFR | ![]() | 273 | −15 | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() | Royal Johannesburg | |
1976 (Nov) | AFR | ![]() | 280 | −8 | 6 strokes | ![]() ![]() | Durban CC | [20] |
BP South African Open | ||||||||
1976 (Feb) | AFR | ![]() | 287 | −1 | Playoff[lower-alpha 12] | ![]() | Houghton | [21] |
1975 | AFR | ![]() | 278 | −10 | 6 strokes | ![]() | Mowbray | [22] |
South African Open Championship | ||||||||
1974 | AFR | ![]() | 272 | −16 | 4 strokes | ![]() | Royal Johannesburg | [23] |
1973 | AFR | ![]() | 282 | −6 | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() ![]() | Durban CC | [24] |
1972 | AFR | ![]() | 274 | −18 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Royal Johannesburg | [25] |
1971 | ![]() | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Mowbray | [26] | |
1970 | ![]() | 285 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Royal Durban | |||
1969 | ![]() | 273 | 6 strokes | ![]() | Durban CC | |||
1968 | ![]() | 274 | 7 strokes | ![]() | Houghton | |||
1967 | ![]() | 279 | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() | East London | |||
1966 | ![]() | 278 | 1 stroke | ![]() ![]() | Houghton | |||
1965 | ![]() | 273 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Royal Cape | |||
1964 | No tournament due to two events in 1963 | |||||||
1963 (Dec) | ![]() | 278 | 2 strokes | ![]() | Bloemfontein | |||
1963 (Mar) | ![]() | 281 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Durban CC | |||
1962 | ![]() | 285 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Houghton | |||
1961 | ![]() | 289 | 8 strokes | ![]() | East London | |||
1960 | ![]() | 280 | 7 strokes | ![]() ![]() | Mowbray | |||
1959 | ![]() | 282 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Royal Johannesburg | |||
1958 | ![]() | 281 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Bloemfontein | |||
1957 | ![]() | 289 | Playoff[lower-alpha 13] | ![]() | Humewood | |||
1956 | ![]() | 286 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Durban CC | |||
1955 | ![]() | 283 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Zwartkop | |||
1954 | ![]() | 289 | 2 strokes | ![]() | East London | |||
1953 | ![]() | 302 | Playoff[lower-alpha 14] | ![]() | Royal Cape | |||
1952 | ![]() | 305 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Humewood | |||
1951 | ![]() | 277 | 9 strokes | ![]() ![]() | Houghton | |||
1950 | ![]() | 280 | 11 strokes | ![]() | Durban CC | |||
1949 | ![]() | 291 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Maccauvlei | |||
1948 | ![]() | 298 | Playoff[lower-alpha 15] | ![]() | East London | |||
1947 | ![]() | 293 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Mowbray | |||
1946 | ![]() | 285 | 14 strokes | Steve Boshoff (a) | Royal Johannesburg | |||
1941–1945 | No tournament due to World War II | |||||||
1940 | ![]() | 293 | 10 strokes | Steve Boshoff (a) | Port Elizabeth | |||
1939 | ![]() | 279 | 8 strokes | Maurice Bodmer (a)![]() | Durban CC | |||
1938 | ![]() | 279 | 5 strokes | ![]() | Maccauvlei | |||
1937 | ![]() | 288 | 11 strokes | ![]() | East London | |||
1936 | ![]() | 297 | Playoff[lower-alpha 16] | J Robertson | Royal Cape | |||
1935 | ![]() | 296 | 3 strokes | Jock Verwey (a) | Parkview | |||
1934 | ![]() | 319 | 7 strokes | Jock Verwey (a) | Humewood | |||
1933 | ![]() | 297 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Maccauvlei | |||
1932 | ![]() | 304 | 4 strokes | ![]() | Mowbray | |||
1931 | ![]() | 302 | 3 strokes | ![]() ![]() | Port Elizabeth | |||
1930 | ![]() | 297 | 11 strokes | ![]() | East London | |||
1929 | ![]() | 315 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Royal Cape | |||
1928 | ![]() | 297 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Durban CC | |||
1927 | ![]() | 301 | 5 strokes | ![]() ![]() | Maccauvlei | |||
1926 | ![]() | 301 | 9 strokes | ![]() | Port Elizabeth | |||
1925 | ![]() | 295 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Johannesburg | |||
1924 | ![]() | 316 | 9 strokes | ![]() ![]() | Durban CC | |||
1923 | ![]() | 315 | 1 stroke | ![]() | Royal Cape | |||
1922 | ![]() | 310 | 7 strokes | ![]() | Port Alfred | |||
1921 | ![]() | 316 | 3 strokes | ![]() | Port Elizabeth | |||
1920 | ![]() | 302 | 2 strokes | ![]() | Johannesburg | |||
1919 | ![]() | 320 | 9 strokes | ![]() | Durban | |||
1915–1918 | No tournament due to World War I | |||||||
1914 | ![]() | 299 | 20 strokes | ![]() | Royal Cape | |||
1913 | ![]() | 304 | 2 strokes | ![]() ![]() | Kimberley | |||
1912 | ![]() | 305 | 10 strokes | ![]() | Potchefstroom | |||
1911 | ![]() | 301 | 11 strokes | ![]() | Durban | |||
1910 | ![]() | 315 | 5 strokes | ![]() | Royal Cape | |||
1909 | ![]() | 306 | 2 strokes | ![]() | Potchefstroom | |||
1908 | ![]() | 294 | 9 strokes | ![]() | Port Elizabeth | |||
1907 | ![]() | 147[lower-alpha 17][lower-alpha 18] | 5 strokes | ![]() | Kimberley | |||
1906 | ![]() | 151[lower-alpha 17] | 3 strokes | H. F. Watson (a) | East London | |||
1905 | ![]() | [lower-alpha 17] | Playoff[lower-alpha 19] | ![]() | Garrison Club | |||
1904 | ![]() | 143[lower-alpha 17] | 4 strokes | ![]() | Johannesburg | |||
1903 | ![]() | 163[lower-alpha 17] | 3 strokes | J. W. Stewart | Port Elizabeth |
- Due to seasonal scheduling, the South African Open has been held twice in some years and not at all in others.
- AFR – Sunshine Tour, previously known as the South(ern) Africa Tour/Vodacom Tour/FNB Tour/Sunshine Circuit; EUR – European Tour
- (a) – Amateur
- Storm won with a par on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff.
- Sullivan won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
- Not an official record score because 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.
- Ramsay won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
- Sterne won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
- Immelman won with a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
- McNulty won on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.
- 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.
- Hayes won following an 18-hole playoff; Hayes 69, Fourie 72.
- Henning won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 144 to Guthrie's 146.
- Boyd won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 162 to Hayes 163.
- Janks won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 147 to Guthrie's 153.
- Olander won the 36-hole playoff with a score of 146 to Robertson's 151.
- Tournament held over 36 holes prior to 1908.
- Some sources have Waters score as 146.
- Gray won the playoff by a stroke with a score of 151.
Multiple winners
Eighteen men have won this tournament more than once through 2018.
Wins | Player | Country | Years won |
---|---|---|---|
13 | Gary Player | ![]() | 1956, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981 |
9 | Bobby Locke | ![]() | 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1955 |
8 | Sid Brews | ![]() | 1925, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1949, 1952 |
5 | George Fotheringham | ![]() | 1908, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1914 |
5 | Ernie Els | ![]() | 1992, 1996, 1998, 2006, 2010 |
4 | Laurie Waters | ![]() | 1903, 1904, 1907, 1920 |
4 | Jock Brews | ![]() | 1921, 1923, 1926, 1928 |
2 | Arthur Gray | ![]() | 1905, 1906 |
2 | Harold Henning | ![]() | 1957, 1962 |
2 | Retief Waltman | ![]() | 1961, 1963 |
2 | Bobby Cole | ![]() | 1974, 1980 |
2 | Wayne Westner | ![]() | 1988, 1991 |
2 | Tony Johnstone | ![]() | 1984, 1993 (Dec) |
2 | David Frost | ![]() | 1986, 1999 |
2 | Mark McNulty | ![]() | 1987, 2001 |
2 | Trevor Immelman | ![]() | 2003, 2004 |
2 | Tim Clark | ![]() | 2002, 2005 (Jan) |
2 | Retief Goosen | ![]() | 1995, 2005 (Dec) |
References
- "SA Open receives world ranking flagship status". News 24. 8 January 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- "How the ranking evolved". Official World Golf Ranking. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
- "SA Amateur & Open". South African Golf Association. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
- "South African Open Championship History and Highlights". South African Open Championship. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
- "South African Open: Graeme Storm beats Rory McIlroy in play-off to win title". BBC Sport. 15 January 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- "Andy Sullivan wins South African Open for first European Tour title". BBC Sport. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- Bisset, Fergus (20 December 2009). "Richie Ramsay wins South African Open Championship". Golf Monthly. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- Bisset, Fergus (21 December 2008). "Richard Sterne Wins South African Open Championship". Golf Monthly. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- "For Immelman, 'greatest way to start the year'". ESPN. Associated Press. 12 January 2003. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
- McCormack, Mark H. (1991). The World of Professional Golf 1991. Chapmans. p. 495. ISBN 1855925583.
- "Switch in time a knock-out for Darcy". The Glasgow Herald. 1 February 1988. p. 9. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
- "Mark McNulty". The Glasgow Herald. 9 February 1987. p. 10. Retrieved 21 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
- McCormack, Mark H. (1988). Ebel World of Professional Golf 1988. Collins Willow. pp. 220, 439–440. ISBN 0002182831.
- "David Frost". The Glasgow Herald. 10 February 1987. p. 11. Retrieved 21 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
- "Golf". The Guardian. 28 January 1985. p. 23. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Player makes it a lucky thirteenth". The Glasgow Herald. 7 December 1981. p. 16. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
- "Palmer senior champ". The Montreal Gazette. 8 December 1980. p. 19. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
- "Weekend sport in brief | Golf". The Glasgow Herald. 10 December 1979. p. 19. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
- "South African Open". The Montreal Gazette. 11 December 1978. p. 38. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
- "Gary wins record 10th open". The Age. 29 November 1975. p. 24. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
- "Hayes triumphs in play-off". The Glasgow Herald. 3 February 1976. p. 23. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
- "Its the Player habit". The Age. 3 February 1975. p. 25. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
- "Cole wins SA Open". The Glasgow Herald. 4 February 1974. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
- Jacobs, Raymond (5 February 1973). "Revised Charles swing again pays dividends". The Glasgow Herald. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
- "Player wins by one stroke". The Glasgow Herald. 14 February 1972. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
- "Hobday holds off Player". The Glasgow Herald. 15 February 1971. p. 5. Retrieved 20 November 2020 – via Google News Archive.
- The Allied Book of South African Sport & Sports Records. SASBOR. 1988. pp. 1941–1949. ISBN 0620128828 – via Google Books.