# South African Open (golf)

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. 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.
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.

## 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. In 2020, the Alfred Dunhill Championship once again replaced the South African Open as the tour's flagship event. 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.

## 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) | Winner | Score | To par | Margin of victory | Runner(s)-up | Venue |
| Investec South African Open Championship ||||||||||
| 114th | 2025 | AFR, EUR | Dylan Naidoo | 202 | −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 | 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 | 2019: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 2019: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 2019: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 2019: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 2019: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 2019: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 2019: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 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 | Rory McIlroy | Glendower |
| 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 | Charl Schwartzel | Glendower |
| 2014: No tournament due to rescheduling from November to January | 2014: No tournament due to rescheduling from November to January | 2014: No tournament due to rescheduling from November to January | 2014: No tournament due to rescheduling from November to January | 2014: No tournament due to rescheduling from November to January | 2014: No tournament due to rescheduling from November to January | 2014: No tournament due to rescheduling from November to January | 2014: No tournament due to rescheduling from November to January | 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 | −25 | 1 stroke | Retief Goosen | Durban |
| 99th | 2009 | AFR, EUR | Richie Ramsay | 275 | −13 | Playoff | Shiv Kapur | Pearl Valley |
| 98th | 2008 | AFR, EUR | Richard Sterne | 274 | −14 | Playoff | Gareth Maybin | Pearl Valley |
| 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 | Tim Clark | Erinvale |
| Bell's South African Open ||||||||||
| 91st | 2002 | AFR, EUR | Tim Clark | 269 | −19 | 2 strokes | Steve Webster | The Country Club |
| 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 | 1994: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 1994: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 1994: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 1994: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 1994: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 1994: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 1994: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 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 |
| 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 |
| 76th | 1987 | AFR | Mark McNulty | 278 | −10 | Playoff | Fulton Allem | Mowbray |
| 75th | 1986 | AFR | David Frost | 275 | −13 | 3 strokes | Tony Johnstone | Royal Johannesburg |
| South African Open ||||||||||
| 74th | 1985 | AFR | Gavan Levenson | 280 | −8 | 3 strokes | Phil Simmons | Royal Durban |
| 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 |
| 1982: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 1982: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 1982: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 1982: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 1982: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 1982: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 1982: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 1982: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January | 1982: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January |
| Datsun South African Open ||||||||||
| 71st | 1981 | AFR | Gary Player (13) | 272 | −16 | Playoff | John Bland Warren Humphreys | Royal Johannesburg |
| 70th | 1980 | AFR | Bobby Cole (2) | 279 | −9 | 4 strokes | Mark McNulty | Durban |
| British Airways/Yellow Pages South African Open ||||||||||
| 69th | 1979 | AFR | Gary Player (12) | 279 | −9 | 1 stroke | Ian Mosey | Houghton |
| Yellow Pages South African Open ||||||||||
| 68th | 1978 | AFR | Hugh Baiocchi | 285 | −3 | 1 stroke | Gavan Levenson | Mowbray |
| 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 |
| BP South African Open ||||||||||
| 65th | 1976 (Jan) | AFR | Dale Hayes | 287 | −1 | Playoff | John Fourie | Houghton |
| 64th | 1975 | AFR | Gary Player (9) | 278 | −10 | 6 strokes | Allan Henning | Mowbray |
| South African Open ||||||||||
| 63rd | 1974 | AFR | Bobby Cole | 272 | −16 | 4 strokes | Allan Henning | Royal Johannesburg |
| BP South African Open ||||||||||
| 62nd | 1973 | AFR | Bob Charles | 282 | −6 | 3 strokes | Vin Baker Bobby Cole Graham Marsh | Durban |
| South African Open ||||||||||
| 61st | 1972 | AFR | Gary Player (8) | 274 | −18 | 1 stroke | Bobby Cole | Royal Johannesburg |
| 60th | 1971 | | Simon Hobday | 276 | −12 | 1 stroke | Gary Player | Mowbray |
| 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 | 1964: No tournament due to two events in 1963 | 1964: No tournament due to two events in 1963 | 1964: No tournament due to two events in 1963 | 1964: No tournament due to two events in 1963 | 1964: No tournament due to two events in 1963 | 1964: No tournament due to two events in 1963 | 1964: No tournament due to two events in 1963 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 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 | 1941–1945: No tournament due to World War II | 1941–1945: No tournament due to World War II | 1941–1945: No tournament due to World War II | 1941–1945: No tournament due to World War II | 1941–1945: No tournament due to World War II | 1941–1945: No tournament due to World War II | 1941–1945: No tournament due to World War II | 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 | 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 | 1915–1918: No tournament due to World War I | 1915–1918: No tournament due to World War I | 1915–1918: No tournament due to World War I | 1915–1918: No tournament due to World War I | 1915–1918: No tournament due to World War I | 1915–1918: No tournament due to World War I | 1915–1918: No tournament due to World War I | 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 | | 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 | 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: