A number of the greatest names in golf will probably be teeing it up in Gauteng this week on the LIV occasion at Steyn Metropolis.
LIV Golf is in South Africa for the primary time this week when the fifth match of the season takes place at Steyn Metropolis Golf Membership from Thursday to Sunday.
Right here is every little thing you must know concerning the SA participant group, the Southern Guards, and the remainder of the match.
Southern Guards
Because the begin of LIV Golf in 2022 a four-man South African participant group, initially referred to as Stinger, however modified to Southern Guards from this 12 months, has featured each season.
Louis Oosthuizen leads the facet that additionally consists of Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Dean Burmester.
Louis Oosthuizen
The 43-year-old, an Open Championship winner in 2010 and real contender on the three different Majors, has but to win an LIV occasion however he’s been second just a few occasions and it appears it’s only a matter of time till he baggage a winner’s cheque.
He goes into his house occasion with a tied twenty first at Singapore final week and a tied eighth in Hong Kong the week earlier than so he’s in respectable kind.
Charl Schwartzel
Schwartzel, the opposite group member who’s gained a Main (the Masters in 2011), gained the inaugural LIV match in London in 2022, whereas he tied for second in Jeddah and tied third in Adelaide in 2024 and completed second in Miami final 12 months.
The 41-year-old can be in good nick going into the Steyn Metropolis match and is somebody to control this week; he loves enjoying in entrance of his house followers.
Branden Grace
Grace, 37, has but to win a Main however he’s come shut earlier than and was the primary man to shoot 62 on the Open in 2017, which is tied for the bottom spherical in any Main.
After ending third within the inaugural London occasion in 2022, he gained the very subsequent occasion, in Portland, to turn out to be South Africa’s second match winner after Schwartzel.
He had a number of second and third place completed in 2023 after which a great 2025 season, with one fourth and one fifth place end. He’s additionally in good kind this season.
Dean Burmester
Burmester joined LIV in season two in 2023, changing Hennie du Plessis within the “SA group”.
Whereas a strong sufficient participant on the Sunshine, DP World and even PGA excursions, the 36-year-old’s recreation has reached new heights on the LIV tour. A strong first season with a greatest end of third in Orlando was adopted up in 2024 with a win in Miami.
In 2025 he completed second in Hong Kong after which gained a second title in Chicago. This season Burmester is once more threatening, with a tied sixth in Adelaide, seventh in Hong Kong and tied tenth final week in Singapore.
Different groups in LIV Golf
Moreover particular person honours, and an enormous cash prize awaiting the winner on Sunday, LIV additionally has a group competitors, the place all 4 members’ scores are added up and a cash prize is shared between them after every match.
Moreover the SA-player group, the Southern Guards, the opposite groups are Aces, Cleeks, Crushers, Fireballs, Hyflyers, Korean GC, Legion XIII, Majesticks, Vary Goats, Ripper, Smash and Torque.
That makes 52 gamers plus 5 wildcard gamers for every match.
Massive-name stars
The Main winners, and big-name stars, in motion this week, moreover Oosthuizen and Schwatzel, are Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, Martin Kaymer, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, and Graeme McDowell. Phil Mickelson, a seven-time Main winner, could not play once more this weekend, as a consequence of household causes.
Different names acquainted with informal golf watchers embrace Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter, Paul Casey, Tyrrell Hatton, Marc Leishman and Joaquin Niemann.
How LIV differs from common golf tournaments
Moreover the group format, to go together with particular person competitors, each spherical tees off by way of a shotgun begin on the similar time, with teams of three beginning on completely different holes, 1-18. For the Steyn Metropolis occasion, tee-time is 12.30pm.
The match was once performed over 54 holes (three rounds and the that means behind LIV – in Roman numerals), however is now performed over 4 rounds and 72 holes.
There’s additionally no midway minimize and each starter earns a “cheque” on the finish of the match. The person winner takes house $4 million.
