The Joburg Open is a men's professional golf tournament that is held in Johannesburg, South Africa. It is an event on the Southern Africa-based Sunshine Tour and co-sanctioned by the European Tour, which attracts a larger prize fund and stronger fields. It is one of several tournaments in South Africa on the European Tour's international schedule, and until 2017 was one of the events where high-finishing players earned entry into The Open Championship if not already exempt.

Joburg Open
Tournament information
LocationJohannesburg, South Africa
Established2007
Course(s)Houghton Golf Club
Par70
Length7,153 yards (6,541 m)
Tour(s)European Tour
Asian Tour
Sunshine Tour
FormatStroke play
Prize fundR 20,500,000
Month playedNovember
Tournament record score
Aggregate260 Richard Sterne (2013)
To par−27 as above
Current champion
South Africa Dean Burmester
Location map
Houghton GC is located in South Africa
Houghton GC
Houghton GC
Location in South Africa
Houghton GC is located in Gauteng
Houghton GC
Houghton GC
Location in Gauteng

History

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The event was founded in 2007 and was played at the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa until 2017. The tournament was contested over both the West and East courses for the first two rounds, enabling a large field of 210 competitors, with the final two rounds being played over the East course following a cut to the top 65 and ties.[1]

Originally contested in January or February, the tournament moved to December in late 2017 and became a tri-sanctioned event with the Asian Tour joining the European Tour and the Sunshine Tour in sanctioning the event; the number of players in the field increased from 210 to 240. The December 2017 event was part of the 2018 European Tour. Having not been held in 2018 or 2019, in October 2020 it was announced that the tournament would be revived in November 2020, when it would be played at Randpark Golf Club.[2]

The 2021 event was shortened due to COVID-19 travel restrictions in place in the UK from South Africa. Originally the event was shortened to 54 holes to allow international players to travel back home in time.[3] However, the following day rain and the threat of lightning shortened the event even further to 36 holes. Thriston Lawrence was the eventual winner.[4]

Winners

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Year Tours[a] Winner Score To par Margin of
victory
Runner(s)-up
2023 AFR, EUR   Dean Burmester 262 −18 3 strokes   Darren Fichardt
2022 AFR, EUR   Dan Bradbury 263 −21 3 strokes   Sami Välimäki
2021 AFR, EUR   Thriston Lawrence 130[b] −12 4 strokes   Zander Lombard
2020 AFR, EUR   Joachim B. Hansen 265 −19 2 strokes   Wilco Nienaber
2018–19: No tournament
2017
(Dec)
AFR, ASA, EUR   Shubhankar Sharma 264 −23 3 strokes   Erik van Rooyen
2017
(Feb)
AFR, EUR   Darren Fichardt 200[c] −15 1 stroke   Stuart Manley
  Paul Waring
2016 AFR, EUR   Haydn Porteous 269 −18 2 strokes   Zander Lombard
2015 AFR, EUR   Andy Sullivan 270 −17 2 strokes   Wallie Coetsee
  David Howell
  Kevin Phelan
  Jaco van Zyl
  Anthony Wall
2014 AFR, EUR   George Coetzee 268 −19 3 strokes   Tyrrell Hatton
  Jin Jeong
  Justin Walters
2013 AFR, EUR   Richard Sterne (2) 260 −27 7 strokes   Charl Schwartzel
2012 AFR, EUR   Branden Grace 270 −17 1 stroke   Jamie Elson
2011 AFR, EUR   Charl Schwartzel (2) 265 −19 4 strokes   Garth Mulroy
2010 AFR, EUR   Charl Schwartzel 261 −23 6 strokes   Darren Clarke
  Keith Horne
2009 AFR, EUR   Anders Hansen 269 −15 1 stroke   Andrew McLardy
2008 AFR, EUR   Richard Sterne 271 −13 Playoff   Magnus A. Carlsson
  Garth Mulroy
2007 AFR, EUR   Ariel Cañete 266 −19 2 strokes   Andrew McLardy

Notes

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  1. ^ AFR − Sunshine Tour; ASA − Asian Tour; EUR − European Tour.
  2. ^ Shortened to 36 holes due to bad weather and impending COVID-19 related travel restrictions.[5]
  3. ^ Shortened to 54 holes due to weather.

References

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  1. ^ "Kingston seeks title double in South Africa". PGA European Tour. 19 March 2010. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  2. ^ Jackson, Keith (20 October 2020). "Joburg Open returns to European Tour schedule in November". Sky Sports. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Reduced Joburg Open continues on Saturday". The Sunday Times. 27 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Lawrence wins maiden title at shortened Joburg Open". European Tour. 27 November 2021.
  5. ^ "Joberg Open: Thriston Lawrence wins 36-hole event amid increasing Covid-19 concerns". BBC Sport. 27 November 2021. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
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