27 November 2023 , 05:15
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Dean Burmester will be playing in next year's Open Championship after winning the Joburg Open, a qualifying event for the major.
The South African, who joined LIV Golf in February this year, has managed to find a way to play in The Open despite resigning from the European Tour and being a member of the breakaway league. The Joburg Open is a part of the Sunshine Tour and is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour.
Burmester was eligible to play in the tournament and, by winning the first event in the Open Qualifying Series, will find himself at Royal Troon next summer. The 34-year-old's world ranking has plummeted from 55th to 154th this year and the qualifying event provided him with a way in.
Other ways to qualify for the major include an exemption (at the tournament's discretion), winning local qualifying, and having a high enough world ranking. Burmester got his 10th career tournament win by finishing 18-under after a bogey-free Sunday, with the nearest challenger three shots behind.
It's a nice full circle for the South African who recorded his first-ever tournament win 10 years ago on the Sunshine Tour. "I actually can’t describe what’s really happened," he said after his home win. "The fans are always fantastic at home in South Africa and I’m so happy to be home and playing at home and eating a bit of braai meat and having a good time."
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"It sounds pretty cool to be the Joburg Open champion," he added. "I’ve been playing this event for so long and to win it is amazing. That was my goal coming home. I hadn’t won this year and have been playing well, so to come here and win a tournament in my home country in front of my home fans with some of my family here is very special."
Burmester finished 11th in the 2022 Open - the same tournament fellow LIV Golf rebel Cameron Smith won - and also competed in the 2021 iteration, finishing tied 40th. Upon qualifying for the 2024 tournament, he said: "I love The Open Championship. The 150th Open at St Andrews that I played in was probably the greatest spectacle that I've ever witnessed. They put on one of the most special shows in golf.
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Dean Burmester has qualified for the 2024 Open"I look forward to Troon and I know it's going to be a good test, I know it's tough, hopefully we have decent weather. Links golf is the truest form of golf and to get through in my home country is super special. As a kid it was probably the one I wanted to win the most and hopefully I can give myself an opportunity over the four days that I'm there."
Burmester has enjoyed a fruitful year with LIV Golf, despite the Saudi-backed league initially being mocked by PGA Tour fans for recruiting a rookie and not a big name. He joined Louis Oosthuizen’s Stinger GC team and finished 14th in the individual standings with five top 10 finishes.