Investec South African Open Championship 2025 Preview, Picks & Analysis

Shaun Norris is determined to add his name to the illustrious list of South African Open champions as he joins a field that iincludes defending champion Dean Burmester at Durban Country Club.

The 42-year-old is playing some of the best golf of his life at present.

After winning his second DP World Tour title in December’s Alfred Dunhill Championship, Norris started 2025 with back-to-back finishes of sixth and 16th in the United Arab Emirates and is currently the highest-ranked South African on the Race to Dubai.

Norris is now determined to capitalise on his form and give himself the best possible shot at a maiden Investec South African Open crown.

"I’ve been swinging the club very well for a while now and I couldn’t have asked for a better start to the year," he said. "This is the tournament that any South African golfer wants to win. It’s our national Open. My two DP World Tour wins are proof to me that my golf is good enough to compete with all the players on the DP World Tour.

"So with my game feeling as good as it is at the moment, I’m definitely going to go for a win in Durban."

Norris already has a victory in the Japan Open to his name in 2021, and said he would love nothing more than to add the South African Open to this list. "It doesn’t matter where you are in the world, to win any national Open is massive," he added. "The next step for me is definitely to be able to win the Investec South African Open."

The fact that this year’s $1.5-million tournament - co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour - will be played at the revamped Durban Country Club also excites Norris. "I love Durban Country Club, and it will be an interesting and different challenge now that they’ve made some changes," said Norris, who has top South African Open finishes of tied 11th in 2012 and tied 20th in 2018.

The tournament was last played in December 2023 when Burmester made it back-to-back DP World Tour victories on home soil after producing a 68 on the final day to win by three shots.

The tournament is one of the oldest in the world and home players have dominated it over the years. There is little reason to expect anything different this time.

Daniel van Tonder won the Kenya Open in 2021 but then struggled and lost his tour card. However, he has enjoyed a sensational start to 2025 on the Challenge Tour, with two victories, including a wonderful performance at the MyGolfLife Open, where he produced rounds of 62, 66, 66 and 67 for a winning total of 261, an astonishing 27 under par. He followed those with a tied sixth and a tied ninth and is now just one win away from regaining his DP World Tour card. It goes without saying that his confidence is sky-high and he will definitely be one to watch this week.

Dylan Frittelli will also fancy his chances. 

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

He turned professional in 2012, shortly after making the winning putt for The University of Texas at the NCAA Championships played at Riviera CC.

He was a top 10 ranked amateur in the world when turning professional. He quickly gained status on the Challenge and Sunshine Tours, winning twice on the Challenge Tour (Karnten Open & Rolex Trophy) before graduating to the DP World Tour in 2017. 

Frittelli claimed his first DP World Tour victory in 2017 at the Lyoness Open powered by ORGANIC+, after losing in a playoff weeks earlier at the Volvo China Open. Shortly after celebrating being named 2017 Graduate of the Year, he notched another win at the Mauritius Open. After joining the PGA Tour in 2018 he won the John Deere Classic in his rookie season, and managed to make the FedEx Cup Finals four years in a row.

In 2020 Frittelli finished fifth at the Masters, and the next year finished fifth at the Open Championship.

Upon his return to the DP World Tour in 2024 he won his third title at the Bahrain Championship

Tournament Winners:

It was won in 2015 by Andy Sullivan, in 2016 by Brandon Stone, in 2017 by Graeme Storm, in January 2018 by Chris Paisley, in December 2018 by Louis Oosthuizen, in January 2020 by Branden Grace, in December 2020 by Christiaan Bezuidenhout, in 2021 by Daniel van Tonder, in 2022 by Thriston Lawrence and in 2023 by Dean Burmester.

The Course:

Durban Country Club is a par 72 measuring 6,691 yards. It suffered devastating flooding in 2022 and all 18 greens and much of the course were redesigned, giving the course a new look and feel. There are lots of trees and bunkers but it is relatively short.

Form Guide:

Shaun Norris won the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December and finished tied sixth at the Dubai Desert Classic and tied 16th at the Ras Al Khaimah Championship. He is a man in form.

Prize Money:

The total prize fund is $1.5m, with 3,000 Race to Dubai points and 1,000 Ryder Cup points also on offer.

How to Watch:

Thursday, February 27, Friday, February 28, Sky Sports Golf, 11am; Saturday, March 1, Sunday, March 2, Sky Sports Golf, 10.30am

To Win:

Shaun Norris. In fine form

Each Way:

Dylan Frittelli. Big hitter

Each Way:

Daniel Van Tonder. On a great run of form

Five to Follow:

Shaun Norris. Would love to win on home soil

Dylan Frittelli. Class act

Daniel Van Tonder. Former winner

Laurie Canter. Has moved up a gear

Charl Schwartzel. Veteran who loves playing in his native South Africa

Five Outsiders to Watch:

Wilco Nienaber. Must break through at some point

George Coetzee. Fabulous ball striker

Robin Williams. Exciting prospect

Ross Fisher. Still has his moments

Brandon Stone. Wonderful swing