[IMAGE: LIV Golf]
The Ripper GC juggernaut rolls into new territory this week with LIV Golf’s inaugural event in South Africa set to tee off Thursday night (AEDT), and if early-season form is anything to go by, the all-Australian outfit might be the team to beat.
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Set against the backdrop of The Club at Steyn City in Midrand, a near-sellout crowd is expected to throw its support behind the homegrown Southern Guards lineup as they seek revenge against the Aussies in what in shaping as LIV Golf’s most compelling rivalry. Two years ago at LIV Golf Adelaide, Ripper GC broke the hearts of the then-Stingers GC team in a sudden-death playoff at Grange Golf Club, something that will be firmly on their minds come Thursday.
For Cam Smith, Marc Leishman, Lucas Herbert and Elvis Smylie, however, the focus is far simpler: keep the foot down. The Rippers have stormed out of the gates in 2026, opening the season with back-to-back team victories in Riyadh and Adelaide before adding a runner-up finish last week in Hong Kong. It’s the kind of early dominance that sets a tone, and more importantly, builds belief.
“I think we’re all really determined to keep the momentum going,” Smith said ahead of the opening round. “I think it’s obviously a lot of hard work to do that and something that we’re trying to do. But at the moment, we’re all playing really good golf. We feel confident. This is another week that we’re going to enjoy here in South Africa.”
If the Rippers are riding a wave, the South Africans are waiting with open arms and plenty of motivation. And, don’t worry, memories of that dramatic playoff in 2024 still linger.
“Obviously being part of that playoff was one of the best things I’ve ever done in the game of golf,” said Southern Guards star Dean Burmester.
“I think the first playoff hole, Louis (Oosthuizen) and I say it all the time, we had our chances and didn’t take it. But it was an amazing atmosphere. I think rugby, cricket and having the rivalry against the Australians for so long has been something that’s come through generations. For us, to be able to be a part of it in Adelaide was really cool, and now we get an opportunity to do it at home and represent South Africa. We’re just proud, and hopefully the fans have an amazing experience, and we certainly feel like they’re going to be behind us.”
Leishman said he’s expecting a little extra “juice” from the South Africans this week.
“I mean, there’s always juice every week, but I think there’s definitely motivation for the Southern Guards,” Leishman said. “Obviously getting beaten in a playoff, they probably are after revenge. What a great place to try and get it, here in their home country.”
With reports of more than 90,000 tickets sold, league officials are hopeful the atmosphere at Steyn City this week can rival its flagship event in Adelaide. Herbert, who has experience playing in South Africa, expects nothing less than a full-throated home response.
“I mean, I’d expect them to get behind the Southern Guards the way that the Adelaide crowds have got behind the Ripper team the past couple of years,” Herbert said. “(They have) a really good, loyal, vocal fan base out here in South Africa.”
Smylie, one of the breakout stars of the early season, has wasted little time making his presence felt as a rookie. A win in Riyadh and strong performances over the past month have underlined both his potential and the depth within the Rippers lineup.
“I think each week has had an amazing story attached to it, myself winning in Riyadh and then you’ve got AK (Anthony Kim) winning in Adelaide,” Smylie said. “You’ve got Bryson (DeChambeau) winning last week and then Jon (Rahm) winning in Hong Kong.”
More broadly, the 23-year-old has been struck by the depth of talent across the league.
“I’m continuing to see that this league is really strong,” he said. “There’s a lot of great players, and we’re obviously playing great as a team, which is nice. We hope to keep that winning feeling going from Riyadh and Adelaide.”
After getting one final look at the course Wednesday, the players’ full attention now turns to the tournament teeing off at 10:05am local time (7:05pm) on Thursday – a change from the original start time due to inclement weather forecasts.
