Southern Guards GC ready to make history and fly SA flag at LIV Golf

The Southern Guards Golf Club has made it clear they want to be spoken about in the same breath as South Africa’s most successful sporting teams ahead of the new LIV Golf season.

Just as the Springboks, Blitzboks, Women Boks and Proteas have flown the flag on the world stage in recent years, they want to show that South African golf belongs right there too.

After finishing third in last season’s league, the all-South African foursome of captain Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace, Charl Schwartzel and Dean Burmester know they are close to something special. That result proved they can compete against the best players and teams in the world, but it has also left them hungry for more success.

For the group, progress is not just about results, but about building a golf legacy that South African fans can be proud of.

They often look to the country’s other national teams for inspiration. The Springboks’ dominance, the Blitzboks’ energy and success when they play in the Cape Town leg of the World Rugby SVNS Series, and the rise of the Women Boks, Banyana Banyana and Proteas have shown what belief, unity and hard work can achieve.

The Southern Guards, who rebranded recently from Stinger GC, see those teams as proof that South Africa thrives when it competes together with a clear purpose.

The new LIV Golf season begins in February, and every tournament will form part of Team SG’s build-up to a landmark moment: the first-ever LIV Golf tournament on South African soil. That historic event will take place at Steyn City in March 2026, and it is already circled on their calendar.

Winning at home would mean more than just a trophy. It would be a chance to make history and reward supporters who will finally get to see them compete live on an international stage.

Burmester, who led the South African charge last season with a victory in Chicago, says the focus is on delivering more consistent performances to improve on last season’s overall third-place finish.

“A big goal of the team is to get into the final three more often this season, especially in March in front of our home crowd, and the four of us pride ourselves on being consistent and good golfers,” Burmester said.

“Last year’s ending and getting into the final three was a real eye-opener for us. We all enjoyed being part of that situation and competing against the Crushers and Legion teams with Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm on the final day in front of 25,000 people.

“It was pretty special. South Africa will bring that ‘Gees’ at Steyn City, and as the Southern Guards, we want to pride ourselves on defending our home ground. That starts in Riyadh and prepping for the tournaments from day one.”

The addition of the South African tournament and the rebranding of the team are not the only changes to look forward to. LIV Golf has also adapted the format this season, with competitions now decided over four rounds instead of the three the league started with. That means an extra day of 18 holes for the players.

The 34-year-old Burmester is happy with the additional day and believes it will make things more interesting from a player’s perspective, while also opening the door for more spectators. The South African leg has already sold more than 75,000 tickets across the four days.

“Three rounds felt like a sprint,” Burmester said.

“If you had one bad or average day, you were not competing for a tournament win anymore. Now you have another 18 holes, and you can rely on a bit of patience, on yourself and your strategies. It brings you back to having time, and knowing that Sundays become more important. There’s a build-up to it, and it’s exciting.

“There will be an adjustment, and I know not everyone is excited because there were certain reasons for coming to LIV Golf, but in the long run it was probably inevitable. It’s going to be interesting to see how the first few events go.”