South African Open (golf)


The South African Open Championship is one of the oldest national open golf championships in the world, and is one of the principal tournaments on the Sunshine Tour. Since 1997 it has also been co-sanctioned by the European Tour.
Except for the 2017 edition, the tournament is 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.
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. 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.
Since 2011 it has been held in the Johannesburg area. In 2011 and 2012 it was hosted by Serengeti Golf Club, while since 2013 it has been held at Glendower Golf Club.
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

Prior to European Tour co-sanctioning
1 Tournament held in December 1993

2 Tournament held in February 1993
Tournament held over 36 holes prior to 1908

Multiple winners

Eighteen men have won this tournament more than once through 2018.
WinsPlayerCountryYears won
13Gary Player1956, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981
9Bobby Locke1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1946, 1950, 1951, 1955
8Sid Brews1925, 1927, 1930, 1931, 1933, 1934, 1949, 1952
5George FotheringhamSCO1908, 1910, 1911, 1912, 1914
5Ernie Els1992, 1996, 1998, 2006, 2010
4Laurie Waters1903, 1904, 1907, 1920
4Jock Brews1921, 1923, 1926, 1928
2Arthur GrayENG1905, 1906
2Harold Henning1957, 1962
2Retief Waltman1961, 1963
2Bobby Cole1974, 1980
2Wayne Westner1988, 1991
2Tony Johnstone1984, 1993
2David Frost1986, 1999
2Mark McNulty1987, 2001
2Trevor Immelman2003, 2004
2Tim Clark2002, 2005
2Retief Goosen1995, 2005