The Investec South African Open Championship 2026 takes centre stage on the DP World Tour from February 26-March 1 at Stellenbosch Golf Club.
The 2026 DP World Tour International Swing moves from Kenya to Johannesburg for Africa’s oldest national championship, which moves from Durban to Stellenbosch.
The event is co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour and features a world‑class 144-man field chasing a $1.5 million purse around Stellenbosch Golf Club, which previously hosted the event in 1999.
The Investec South African Open was won by Dylan Naidoo in 2025 and this year’s edition promises another exciting chapter with a deep lineup mixing global stars and homegrown favourites.
Current 2026 Investec South African Open Betting Odds
| Player | Betting Odds |
|---|---|
| Patrick Reed | 11/1 (+1100) |
| Jayden Schaper | 12/1 (+1200) |
| Angel Ayora | 13/1 (+1300) |
| Branden Grace | 19/1 (+1900) |
| Dean Burmester | 19/1 (+1900) |
| Hennie Du Plessis | 23/1 (+2300) |
| Casey Jarvis | 26/1 (+2600) |
Leading 2026 South African Open Contenders
Patrick Reed
Patrick Reed returns to South Africa as the clear headline act in the field and one of the hottest players on the DP World Tour.
Recent victories at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and Qatar Masters mean he arrives with two wins in his last three starts and firmly back inside the world’s top 20.
Reed’s renowned short game and competitive edge make him a serious threat on a demanding Stellenbosch layout, and he will be aiming to become the first American winner of the South African Open since 1989.
Jayden Schaper
Jayden Schaper has elevated himself from rising star to genuine DP World Tour force with a blistering start to the 2026 season.
He followed a superb 2025 campaign of nine top‑10 finishes by winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship and AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, in addition to a runner‑up at the Nedbank Challenge and top‑10s in Dubai and Qatar.
Already a Swing champion and high on the Race to Dubai Rankings, Schaper’s consistency and comfort on home soil make him arguably the leading South African hope this week.
Angel Ayora
Angel Ayora continues to trend in the right direction as one of the DP World Tour’s emerging names.
The young Spaniard has already shown he can contend in co‑sanctioned events, with his well‑rounded tee‑to‑green game and calm temperament helping him post a series of solid finishes early in the 2026 campaign.
With generous fairways and demanding approaches at Stellenbosch, Ayora’s ball‑striking and tidy scrambling give him every chance to put himself in the mix over the weekend.
Branden Grace
Former SA Open champion Branden Grace adds plenty of major experience and home pride to the field.
Part of a group that includes multiple past winners of this championship, Grace’s knowledge of South African conditions and ability to control his ball flight remain key assets.
While he has not been as prolific in recent seasons, his proven record in national opens ensures he cannot be discounted if the putter warms up.
Dean Burmester
Dean Burmester returns to a tournament he has previously won and where his power game is always a significant weapon.
Now a multiple winner on both sides of the Atlantic, Burmester arrives with the confidence of a world‑class ball‑striker who has regularly featured on big leaderboards.
If he marries his length off the tee with a solid week on the greens, another Investec SA Open title is a realistic target.
Hennie Du Plessis
Hennie Du Plessis comes into his home Open on the back of another strong showing in East Africa.
He pushed compatriot Casey Jarvis hard at the Magical Kenya Open, contending deep into Sunday before ultimately being overhauled as Jarvis closed out victory.
That runner‑up performance added to a growing list of solid results in co‑sanctioned events and underlined Du Plessis’ reputation as a dependable, in‑form contender who thrives in African conditions.
Casey Jarvis
Casey Jarvis arrives this week as a freshly crowned DP World Tour winner after clinching his maiden title at the 2026 Magical Kenya Open.
The 22‑year‑old produced a sensational finish at Karen Country Club, including a clutch eagle at the 72nd hole in a weather‑disrupted final round, to win by three shots and jump to fourth in the Race to Dubai Rankings and inside the top 130 in the world.
Already highly regarded after a third place at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open late in 2025, Jarvis now brings winning confidence and momentum back to home soil, making him one of the most dangerous young players in the field.
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