Dean Burmester & LIV Golf: A Ryder Cup-Like Experience for South Africa
JOHANNESBURG — Dean Burmester was having a conversation with Jon Rahm near the first green, looking back up the hill at the grandstand they had just teed off from. “Minor taste of the Ryder Cup,” he said to Rahm. “That’s about as solid as it will ever get for me. Pretty special.” The point wasn’t a comparison of crowd sizes, but rather Burmester acknowledging his limited opportunities to experience such an atmosphere. He knows he will likely never play in a Ryder Cup, or even a Presidents Cup. But LIV Golf’s event in his home country offered a similar, albeit localized, feeling of national pride.
Burmester, in many ways, embodied the spirit of the week, frequently gesturing to approach shots and celebrating with the enthusiastic crowd. He danced on tee boxes, extending his arms wide in a gesture reminiscent of Maximus Meridius in “Gladiator.” The 36-year-old journeyman became a focal point for the event, which mirrored the successful LIV Golf template established in Australia in recent years. More than 100,000 tickets were sold for the Johannesburg event, drawing a large, patriotic crowd.
“I’ve got a bit of a tan from taking my hat off all the time,” Burmester said after the final round. “It’s just something—I wanted to do well for the fans and was honored to reveal my appreciation wherever I went. It’s amazing to have that kind of support, and they’re shouting down the fairways and on the greens and stuff like that, and I just wanted to say thank you. That’s basically what I wanted to do. The more noise they could produce, the better.”
LIV Golf’s approach to international events, resembling festivals more than traditional golf tournaments, proved successful again. The formula—attracting attendees with golf, musical acts, or simply a vibrant atmosphere—was evident in Johannesburg. The event was amplified by the presence of South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Art and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, who publicly predicted a victory for the home team.
The South African team, initially holding a nine-stroke lead, saw their advantage dwindle throughout the final round. They managed only one birdie over their last 16 collective holes. Louis Oosthuizen finished with a bogey on a par-5. Despite the near-victory, President Cyril Ramaphosa was present to acknowledge their efforts, appearing in a televised interview alongside Bryson DeChambeau, who ultimately secured the individual title and defeated Jon Rahm in a playoff.
The South African players had been promised a celebratory party if they won the team competition. However, Oosthuizen indicated they were too exhausted to celebrate. “I’m ready for a brandy and Coke,” Burmester said, during his 30th interview of the week. The impromptu press conference was held on the 1st tee box, surrounded by cheering countrymen. “Each of us got to tee off on this 1st tee here, and each of us walked off saying exactly the same thing: we couldn’t experience anything. It was the greatest thing I’ve ever felt on the golf course. I’m just proud to be South African; that’s it.”
Jon Rahm’s participation in the event occurred as he continues to navigate sanctions from the DP World Tour for playing in LIV Golf events. He recently withdrew his appeal of those sanctions, a move that puts his eligibility for future European Ryder Cup teams at risk, as he refused a conditional release deal that required him to pay fines and play a higher minimum of DP World Tour events. He had previously indicated he would accept the terms if the minimum event requirement was lowered from six to four. (Golfweek, March 20, 2026)
The Ryder Cup remains a significant factor for the DP World Tour, as it is crucial to the tour’s financial stability. (socalgolfer.org, March 20, 2026)