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 #YearTour(s) Winner Score To par Margin ofvictory Runner(s)-up Venue Ref.Investec South African Open Championship115th2026 AFR, EUR Casey Jarvis 266 −14 3 strokes Hennie du Plessis Frédéric Lacroix Francesco Laporta Stellenbosch 114th2025 AFR, EUR Dylan Naidoo 202 −14 Playoff Laurie Canter Durban 2024: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to March113th2023 AFR, EUR Dean Burmester 277 −11 3 strokes Renato Paratore Jesper Svensson Ryan van Velzen Blair Atholl 112th2022 AFR, EUR Thriston Lawrence 272 −16 1 stroke Clément Sordet Blair Atholl SA Open Championship111th2021 AFR, EUR Daniel van Tonder 272 −16 1 stroke Oliver Bekker Gary Player South African Open110th2020(Dec) AFR, EUR Christiaan Bezuidenhout 270 −18 5 strokes Jamie Donaldson Gary Player 109th2020(Jan) AFR, EUR Branden Grace 263 −21 3 strokes Louis Oosthuizen Randpark 2019: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January108th2018(Dec) AFR, ASA, EUR Louis Oosthuizen 266 −18 6 strokes Romain Langasque Randpark BMW SA Open107th2018(Jan) AFR, EUR Chris Paisley 267 −21 3 strokes Branden Grace Glendower 106th2017 AFR, EUR Graeme Storm 270 −18 Playoff Rory McIlroy Glendower 105th2016 AFR, EUR Brandon Stone 274 −14 2 strokes Christiaan Bezuidenhout Glendower South African Open Championship104th2015 AFR, EUR Andy Sullivan 277 −11 Playoff Charl Schwartzel Glendower 2014: No tournament due to rescheduling from November to January103rd2013 AFR, EUR Morten Ørum Madsen 269 −19 2 strokes Jbe' Kruger Hennie Otto Glendower SA Open Championship102nd2012 AFR, EUR Henrik Stenson 271 −17 3 strokes George Coetzee Serengeti 101st2011 AFR, EUR Hennie Otto 274 −14 1 stroke Bernd Wiesberger Serengeti South African Open Championship100th2010 AFR, EUR Ernie Els (5) 263 −25 1 stroke Retief Goosen Durban 99th2009 AFR, EUR Richie Ramsay 275 −13 Playoff Shiv Kapur Pearl Valley 98th2008 AFR, EUR Richard Sterne 274 −14 Playoff Gareth Maybin Pearl Valley South African Airways Open97th2007 AFR, EUR James Kingston 284 −4 1 stroke Oliver Wilson Pearl Valley 96th2006 AFR, EUR Ernie Els (4) 264 −24 3 strokes Trevor Immelman Humewood 95th2005(Dec) AFR, EUR Retief Goosen (2) 282 −10 1 stroke Ernie Els Fancourt 94th2005(Jan) AFR, EUR Tim Clark (2) 273 −15 6 strokes Grégory Havret Charl Schwartzel Durban 93rd2004 AFR, EUR Trevor Immelman (2) 276 −12 3 strokes Alastair Forsyth Steve Webster Erinvale 92nd2003 AFR, EUR Trevor Immelman 274 −14 Playoff Tim Clark Erinvale Bell's South African Open91st2002 AFR, EUR Tim Clark 269 −19 2 strokes Steve Webster The Country Club Mercedes-Benz South African Open90th2001 AFR, EUR Mark McNulty (2) 280 −8 1 stroke Justin Rose East London 89th2000 AFR, EUR Mathias Grönberg 274 −14 1 stroke Darren Fichardt Ricardo González Nick Price Randpark Mercedes-Benz - Vodacom South African Open88th1999 AFR, EUR David Frost (2) 279 −5 1 stroke Scott Dunlap Jeev Milkha Singh Stellenbosch South African Open87th1998 AFR, EUR Ernie Els (3) 273 −15 3 strokes David Frost Durban 86th1997 AFR, EUR Vijay Singh 270 −18 1 stroke Nick Price Glendower Phillips South African Open85th1996 AFR Ernie Els (2) 275 −13 1 stroke Brenden Pappas Royal Cape 84th1995 AFR Retief Goosen 275 −13 5 strokes Ernie Els Randpark 1994: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to January83rd1993(Dec) AFR Tony Johnstone (2) 267 −21 7 strokes Ernie Els Durban 82nd1993(Feb) AFR Clinton Whitelaw 279 −9 2 strokes Retief Goosen Glendower Protea Assurance South African Open81st1992 AFR Ernie Els 273 −15 3 strokes Derek James Houghton 80th1991 AFR Wayne Westner (2) 272 −16 4 strokes Mark James Tony Johnstone Durban 79th1990 AFR Trevor Dodds 285 −3 1 stroke Hugh Royer III Royal Cape 78th1989 AFR Fred Wadsworth 278 −10 1 stroke Tom Lehman Glendower Southern Suns South African Open77th1988 AFR Wayne Westner 275 −13 2 strokes Ian Mosey Durban 76th1987 AFR Mark McNulty 278 −10 Playoff Fulton Allem Mowbray 75th1986 AFR David Frost 275 −13 3 strokes Tony Johnstone Royal Johannesburg South African Open74th1985 AFR Gavan Levenson 280 −8 3 strokes Phil Simmons Royal Durban 73rd1984 AFR Tony Johnstone 274 −14 3 strokes Fulton Allem Houghton 72nd1983 AFR Charlie Bolling 278 −10 1 stroke Tertius Claassens Royal Cape 1982: No tournament due to rescheduling from December to JanuaryDatsun South African Open71st1981 AFR Gary Player (13) 272 −16 Playoff John Bland Warren Humphreys Royal Johannesburg 70th1980 AFR Bobby Cole (2) 279 −9 4 strokes Mark McNulty Durban British Airways/Yellow Pages South African Open69th1979 AFR Gary Player (12) 279 −9 1 stroke Ian Mosey Houghton Yellow Pages South African Open68th1978 AFR Hugh Baiocchi 285 −3 1 stroke Gavan Levenson Mowbray 67th1977 AFR Gary Player (11) 273 −15 3 strokes Bobby Cole Dale Hayes Royal Johannesburg 66th1976(Nov) AFR Gary Player (10) 280 −8 6 strokes David Suddards (a) Bobby Verwey Durban BP South African Open65th1976(Jan) AFR Dale Hayes 287 −1 Playoff John Fourie Houghton 64th1975 AFR Gary Player (9) 278 −10 6 strokes Allan Henning Mowbray South African Open63rd1974 AFR Bobby Cole 272 −16 4 strokes Allan Henning Royal Johannesburg BP South African Open62nd1973 AFR Bob Charles 282 −6 3 strokes Vin Baker Bobby Cole Graham Marsh Durban South African Open61st1972 AFR Gary Player (8) 274 −18 1 stroke Bobby Cole Royal Johannesburg 60th1971 Simon Hobday 276 −12 1 stroke Gary Player Mowbray 59th1970 Tommy Horton 285 3 strokes Terry Westbrook Royal Durban 58th1969 Gary Player (7) 273 6 strokes Trevor Wilkes Durban 57th1968 Gary Player (6) 274 7 strokes Cobie Legrange Houghton 56th1967 Gary Player (5) 279 3 strokes Allan Henning Mike Hoyle East London 55th1966 Gary Player (4) 278 1 stroke Harold Henning Cobie Legrange Houghton 54th1965 Gary Player (3) 273 3 strokes John Hayes Royal Cape 1964: No tournament due to two events in 196353rd1963(Dec) Allan Henning 278 2 strokes Bruce Keyter Bloemfontein 52nd1963(Mar) Retief Waltman (2) 281 1 stroke Sewsunker Sewgolum Durban 51st1962 Harold Henning (2) 285 1 stroke Denis Hutchinson Houghton 50th1961 Retief Waltman 289 8 strokes Barry Franklin (a) East London 49th1960 Gary Player (2) 280 7 strokes Harold Henning Tommy Trevena Mowbray 48th1959 Denis Hutchinson (a) 282 1 stroke Gary Player Royal Johannesburg 47th1958 Arthur Stewart (a) 281 1 stroke Bobby Locke Bloemfontein 46th1957 Harold Henning 289 Playoff Sandy Guthrie Humewood 45th1956 Gary Player 286 3 strokes Bruce Keyter Durban 44th1955 Bobby Locke (9) 283 1 stroke Reg Taylor Zwartkop 43rd1954 Reg Taylor (a) 289 2 strokes Jannie le Roux (a) East London 42nd1953 Jimmy Boyd (a) 302 Playoff Otway Hayes Royal Cape 41st1952 Sid Brews (8) 305 1 stroke Sandy Guthrie Humewood 40th1951 Bobby Locke (8) 277 9 strokes Jimmy Boyd (a) Harry Bradshaw Houghton 39th1950 Bobby Locke (7) 280 11 strokes Sandy Guthrie Durban 38th1949 Sid Brews (7) 291 3 strokes Eric Moore Maccauvlei 37th1948 Mickey Janks (a) 298 Playoff Sandy Guthrie East London 36th1947 Ronnie Glennie (a) 293 1 stroke Eric Moore Mowbray 35th1946 Bobby Locke (6) 285 14 strokes Steve Boshoff (a) Royal Johannesburg 1941–1945: No tournament due to World War II34th1940 Bobby Locke (5) 293 10 strokes Steve Boshoff (a) Port Elizabeth 33rd1939 Bobby Locke (4) 279 8 strokes Maurice Bodmer (a) Clarence Olander (a) Durban 32nd1938 Bobby Locke (3) 279 5 strokes Sid Brews Maccauvlei 31st1937 Bobby Locke (a) (2) 288 11 strokes Clarence Olander (a) East London 30th1936 Clarence Olander (a) 297 Playoff J Robertson Royal Cape 29th1935 Bobby Locke (a) 296 3 strokes Jock Verwey (a) Parkview 28th1934 Sid Brews (6) 319 7 strokes Jock Verwey (a) Humewood 27th1933 Sid Brews (5) 297 3 strokes Charles McIlvenny Maccauvlei 26th1932 Charles McIlvenny 304 4 strokes Bob Grimsdell Mowbray 25th1931 Sid Brews (4) 302 3 strokes Bob Grimsdell Charles McIlvenny Port Elizabeth 24th1930 Sid Brews (3) 297 11 strokes Jock Brews East London 23rd1929 Archie Tosh 315 1 stroke Jock Brews Royal Cape 22nd1928 Jock Brews (4) 297 1 stroke Sid Brews Durban 21st1927 Sid Brews (2) 301 5 strokes Bert Elkin Charles McIlvenny Maccauvlei 20th1926 Jock Brews (3) 301 9 strokes Bert Elkin Port Elizabeth 19th1925 Sid Brews 295 3 strokes Jock Brews Johannesburg 18th1924 Bert Elkin 316 9 strokes Jock Brews Sid Brews Durban 17th1923 Jock Brews (2) 315 1 stroke Archie Tosh Royal Cape 16th1922 Fred Jangle 310 7 strokes Jock Brews Port Alfred 15th1921 Jock Brews 316 3 strokes Archie Tosh Port Elizabeth 14th1920 Laurie Waters (4) 302 2 strokes Bert Elkin Johannesburg 13th1919 William Horne 320 9 strokes Hugh Gordon Stewart (a) Durban 1915–1918: No tournament due to World War I12th1914 George Fotheringham (5) 299 20 strokes Jock Brews Royal Cape 11th1913 Jimmy Prentice (a) 304 2 strokes Willie Binnie Jack Fotheringham Kimberley 10th1912 George Fotheringham (4) 305 10 strokes Laurie Waters Potchefstroom 9th1911 George Fotheringham (3) 301 11 strokes David Guthrie Durban 8th1910 George Fotheringham (2) 315 5 strokes Arthur Gray Royal Cape 7th1909 Jack Fotheringham 306 2 strokes George Fotheringham Potchefstroom 6th1908 George Fotheringham 294 9 strokes Laurie Waters Port Elizabeth 5th1907 Laurie Waters (3) 147 5 strokes Walter Day Jr Kimberley 4th1906 Arthur Gray (2) 151 3 strokes H. F. Watson (a) East London 3rd1905 Arthur Gray Playoff George Fotheringham Garrison Club 2nd1904 Laurie Waters (2) 143 4 strokes Arthur Gray Johannesburg 1st1903 Laurie Waters 163 3 strokes J. W. Stewart Port Elizabeth Source:

See also Open golf tournament

Notes