The 2026 Investec South African Open Championship will take center stage during the DP World Tour from February 26 to March 1 at Stellenbosch Golf Club.
The DP World Tour International Swing 2026 moves from Kenya to Johannesburg for Africa’s oldest national championship, which moves from Durban to Stellenbosch.
Organized in conjunction with the Sunshine Tour, the event features a world-class 144-strong field chasing a $1.5 million purse around the Stellenbosch Golf Club, where the event previously took place in 1999.
The Investec South African Open was won by Dylan Naidoo in 2025 and this year’s edition promises another exciting chapter with an extensive line-up combining global stars and homegrown favourites.
Current Investec South African open bets for 2026
| Player | Betting |
|---|---|
| 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 most popular players on the DP World Tour.
Recent victories at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and Qatar Masters see him arrive with two wins in his last three starts and firmly back in the top 20 in the world.
Already renowned short game and competitive advantage make him a serious threat on a demanding course in Stellenbosch, and he will aim to become the first American winner of the South African Open since 1989.
Jayden Schaper
Jayden Schaper has elevated himself from rising star to true DP World Tour force with a thrilling start to the 2026 season.
He followed up a fantastic 2025 campaign with nine top-10 finishes by winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, in addition to a second-place finish at the Nedbank Challenge and top-10 finishes in Dubai and Qatar.
Schaper is already a Swing champion and is high in the Race to Dubai Rankings. His consistency and comfort on home soil may see him as the leading South African hope this week.
Angel Ayora
Angel Ayora continues to move in the right direction as one of the rising names of the DP World Tour.
The young Spaniard has already shown he can compete in joint events, with his well-rounded tee-to-green game and calm temperament helping him post a string of solid results at the start of the 2026 season.
With generous fairways and demanding approaches in Stellenbosch, Ayora’s ball striking and neat scrambling give him every opportunity to put himself in the mix this weekend.
Branden Grace
Former SA Open champion Branden Grace brings a lot of great experience and home pride to the field.
Part of a group that includes several previous winners of this championship, Grace’s knowledge of South African conditions and ability to control his ball flight remain key assets.
While he hasn’t been as productive in recent seasons, his proven track record in national openers means he can’t be left out of the equation as the putter warms up.
Dean Burmester
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 in major rankings.
If he combines 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 after another strong showing in East Africa.
He pressed compatriot Casey Jarvis hard at the Magical Kenya Open and fought well into Sunday before finally being defeated as Jarvis emerged victorious.
That second-place performance added to a growing list of solid results in co-sanctioned events and underlined Du Plessis’ reputation as a reliable, in-form competitor who thrives in African conditions.
Casey Jarvis
The 22-year-old produced a sensational finish at Karen Country Club, including a clutch eagle on 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 into the top 130 in the world.
Already highly regarded after finishing third at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in late 2025, Jarvis is now bringing the winning confidence and momentum back to home soil, making him one of the most dangerous young players in the field.
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