An agreement hasn’t been reached between the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund as the Dec. 31 deadline quickly approaches, but the way LIV Golf players are hoovering up wins on the DP World Tour this winter you’d think the war in professional golf was over.
A trio of players in the league have dominated the early portion of the 2023-24 DP World Tour season, so much so that three LIV players have won five of the first six events of the new campaign.
Six events comprise the “Opening Swing” of the European-based tour’s season and events have been held in Australia, South Africa and Mauritius. As the tour takes a three-week break before its International Swing begins in Dubai in January, check out just how much LIV Golf has dominated the DP World Tour so far this season.
Dean Burmester — Joburg Open
Min Woo Lee claimed the season opener at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club in Brisbane, but ever since it’s been a LIV party in the DP World Tour winner’s circle.
Dean Burmester won the Joburg Open at Houghton Golf Club in South Africa at 18 under, three shots clear of Darren Fichardt. The win was the 34-year-old’s third on the DP World Tour and first since the 2021 Tenerife Open.
Dean Burmester — Investec South African Open Championship
Burmester had so much fun at Houghton he ran it back with another win the next week at the Investec South African Open Championship at Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate in Johannesburg. The South African won by three shots again, this time at 11 under over Renato Paratore, Jesper Svensson and Ryan van Velzen.
“Back-to-back. I’ve never done that before so that was special,” Burmester said after the round. “It’s obviously one as a South African that I’ve always wanted to win. To be involved in this tournament and to win it, with a bank that used to sponsor me and got me off the ground when I was just a kid, is super special … so to be the SA Open champion is something I’ll never forget.”
Joaquin Niemann — ISPS Handa Australian Open
In an event held opposite the Investec South African Open Championship, Joaquin Niemann won the ISPS Handa Australian Open at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney for his first DP World Tour win and first victory since the 2022 Genesis Invitational.
Niemann made an eagle on the second playoff hole to defeat Rikuya Hoshino and become the first South American winner of the ISPS Handa Australian Open. The 25-year-old Chilean had a chance to earn his victory a hole prior with an even shorter eagle putt but missed.
“It was a nice day. These last two playoff holes showed how I have been playing the last few weeks here in Australia,” said Niemann after his win. “My putting hasn’t been the best, but I’ve been working hard on it and it was nice to make that last putt.”
Louis Oosthuizen — Alfred Dunhill Championship
Louis Oosthuizen earned his first DP World Tour win since 2018 at the 2023 Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek Country Club in Malelane, South Africa, by two shots over his LIV Golf teammate, Charl Schwartzel.
“This is one of the tournaments that I’ve always wanted to win,” the proud South African said of winning the event in his home country. “It took me a while. It’s always a great place coming back to.”
Louis Oosthuizen — AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open
Oosthuizen went back-to-back to end the year at the 2023 AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open at Heritage La Réserve Golf Club in Heritage Bel Ombre, Mauritius, once again by two strokes, this time over former LIV player Laurie Canter.
“Golf is the strangest thing,” Oosthuizen said after the round. “The last five weeks I’ve not done a lot with golf, I’ve played a few rounds and when I got to Leopard Creek I was working on a small little thing. I started hitting it really good and I know I’m putting well and then I just carried on with that momentum.”
“I’m glad I could pull this off this week, it’s sort of a dream come true being able to play a tournament on a golf course you helped design and end up winning it,” he added. “This is the first event my daughters have been to where I won, this is very special.”
