While sides like the Springboks are lauded for the four Rugby World Cup titles, it’s worth noting that South African golfers over the years have been some of the most successful in the history of the game.
South Africa has won a total of 22 men’s golf majors, which sees them placed fourth in the world. Only the USA (285), Scotland (55) and England (36) have won more majors in total.
Patriotic South Africans will also be pleased to know that the Rainbow Nation is also ahead of Australia, which has won 18 majors in total.
With the huge number of golf courses in South Africa, combined with the good all-year-round weather, the nation is the perfect breeding ground for new talent.
South African Golf Legends: Bobby Locke and Gary Player’s Major Wins
That’s been the case at least since 1949, when Bobby Locke became the first South African to win a major at The Open Championship at Royal St George’s Golf Club in England.
By the time Locke won his last Open title in 1957, he had four to his credit.
While it seemed that might be it for some time for South Africa, up rocked a young Gary Player.
Player won his first Open in 1959 at Muirfield, and his incredible run in the majors only ended in 1978 at The Masters with his ninth major title. During his phenomenal career, he also became the youngest player to win the Grand Slam (all four in a career) at the age of 29 in 1965.
Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods would later go on to break the record held by Player, but that could still be one of his greatest achievements in the game.
South Africa’s Major Golf Success: A Legacy of Champions
After Player won his last major, South Africa would have to wait 16 years before a lanky, young Ernie Els broke through to win the US Open in 1994.
That signalled another strong run for South Africa in the majors over the next 18 years as Els ended with four, Retief Goosen won two (2001, 2004), and Trevor Immelman (2008), Louis Oosthuizen (2010) and Charl Schwartzel (2011) were all crowned major champions.
Interestingly, Els was a shock winner of the 2012 Open Championship at Royal Lytham & St Anne’s at the age of 43, and there has not been another South African winner in the Big Four since.
That’s 13 years now since a South African player won a men’s major, but with players like Aldrich Potgieter and Thriston Lawrence taking up the baton – the wait for another major win could be closer than we think.
@Michael_Sherman
IOL Sport
