[PHOTOS: Luke Walker]
When Dean Burmester resigned his DP World Tour membership in May to join LIV Golf, he probably figured his career-win total on the Old World circuit would remain locked at two for the foreseeable future. And he had to think his chances of earning a spot in a major championship would fall, too, given he wouldn’t be earning Official World Golf Ranking points playing LIV events.
But the unique circumstances surrounding the Joburg Open, made possible the crazy storyline that played out overnight (Australian time) at Houghton Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa. With a closing bogey-free 64 (and an 18-under 262 total), Burmester not only won his third DP World Tour title but also qualified for the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon.
Setting all this up was the fact that the Joburg Open was also co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour, and the 34-year-old South African was exempt into it because of his national status. Coincidentally, the tournament was the first of nine tournaments that are part of the R&A’s Open Qualifying Series, where top finishers who haven’t already qualified for The Open earn spots based on their play (joining Burmester were Darren Fichardt, who finished second by three, and Dan Bradbury, third by five shots out of first).
“I actually can’t describe what’s really happened,” said Burmester, who is the third active LIV player to win a DP World Tour title, Adrian Otaegui becoming the first at the Andalucía Masters in 2022 and Cam Smith the second with his Australian PGA Championship win 12 months ago. “The fans are always fantastic at home in South Africa, and I’m so happy to be home and playing at home and eating a bit of braai meat and having a good time.”
Mind you coming to Burmester’s aid was the stumble from 54-hole leader Thriston Lawrence. Holding a one-shot lead over Burmester entering the final round, the 2021 winner shot a closing 75 that caused him to fall to T-7.
Burmester, ranked 156th in the OWGR entering the week after being inside the top 60 earlier in the year, had five top-10 finishes in 12 starts on the LIV Golf circuit in 2023, twice posting T-3 performances while playing for Stinger GC along with fellow South Africans Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace. His last start before the Joburg Open came in mid-October at the LIV team finale.
“I was a little rusty coming in, but my team did such a great job getting me ready for this week… and it paid off,” Burmester said. “I knew I had to do something special and fortunately I was able to do that.”
