Dean

Burmester

The South African broke his left baby toe on Christmas Eve but showed no signs of that impacting his play today. He opened on the Nicklaus Tournament Course and circled seven birdies with an eagle to erase a pair of blemishes. “The Nicklaus Course offers a little bit of leniency off the tee compared to the Stadium Course. So going into that tomorrow I would like to tighten that up off the tee.” Burmester is playing his first season as a card-carrying PGA TOUR member and currently sports a 4-for-5 record including a 4th-place finish at the Sanderson Farms Championship. He’ll look to maintain mometum on the Pete Dye Stadium Course tomorrow.

The big-hitting South African traded eight birdies with one blemish today. “What a back nine, some of the best I’ve played in a little while, so I’m happy to do that.” The back nine he’s referencing included a six-pack of birdies and three pars and was 5.9 shots better than the field average today. Burmester arrived fresh off a T5 at the South African Open and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.

The 33-year-old posted a T10 at the Scottish Open, a T11 at The Open and then landed a pair of top 5s in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals to earn his PGA TOUR card. He’s oozing with excitement to bring his family to the States (likely Florida) and get his rookie campaign started. “ ‘m like pretty much everybody else my age and younger; everyone grew up watching Tiger winning amazing historic events on the PGA TOUR, and I want to come out here and try and put my name next to his on some of those trophies. It’s pretty simple.” He didn’t earn any hardware this week but he did circle 20 birdies and an eagle to poke his head into contention down the stretch, ending just two shots off the winning tally. The long hitter is going to be a popular DFS target all season but he will likely still split time by playing in his fair share of DP World Tour events.

The big-hitting South African opened the Korn Ferry Tour Finals with a T4 in Boise which all but guaranteed a PGA TOUR card for him. A cut made in Ohio did the trick as he’s not locked into The Finals 25 which will give him PGA TOUR status for the first time in his career. “I get goosebumps thinking about where I’m heading to, No. 1 tour in the world and best job in the world. I’m just excited... so much blood, sweat, tears, good times, hard times. My caddie and I have been together four years and it’s going to be his first year out there. He’s been through a lot, 17 years of caddying all over the world. To finally make it to the PGA Tour I think for him is as much a dream as it is for me.” Burmester is a two-time DP World Tour winner and currently ranks 69th in the OGWR.

The South African was playing in his 11th career PGA TOUR-sanctioned event and this will be his first top-25 finish. His previous best was a T30 at the 2018 WGC-Mexico Championship. Of course, that doesn’t paint the full picture as he spends most of his time on the DP World Tour where he’s won two times since 2017. This week, the big hitter lead the pack of cut-makers in terms of driving distance and was third behind only Max Homa and Stewart Cink in strokes gained off-the-tee. The next stop is The Open at St. Andrews. Burmester made his tournament debut last year with a T40 finish.

The 32-year-old Burmester moved into the lead after going birdie-eagle on Nos. 6-7 and extended his advantage with two more birdies on Nos. 10 and 11, but a double bogey at 17 derailed his bid for a third DP World Tour title. He finished at 22-under 266, three strokes behind Norris. Burmester has made six cuts in six starts this season and also finished solo second at a Challenge Tour event in February. He’s made one PGA Tour start this year, missing the cut at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Burmester is in the field for this week’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, where he’ll make his fifth appearance. He’s made two cuts in four starts at Doha Golf Club, with a best finish of T-41 in 2017.

The 32-year-old from South Africa has made three cuts in three starts in the new season, and most recently played on home soil in the Challenge Tour’s Dimension Data Pro-Am, where he finished solo second. Burmester missed a birdie chance at the 72nd hole at the Montagu Course at Fancourt Golf Estate to finish at 22-under 267, one stroke behind winner Alexander Knappe of Germany. The world No. 75 made his PGA Tour debut in February at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, where he missed the cut. Burmester earned his first win at home in South Africa at the 2017 Tshwane Open, and he captured his second title last season at the 2021 Tenerife Open.

Between major championships and world golf championships, the South African has made his fair share of trips to North America. Never once stepping foot in the United States for your run-of-the-mill PGA Tour event, the world No. 71 is set to take on Pebble Beach after beginning his 2022 in the desert. Finishing in a tie for 25th at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and a tie for 55th at the Slync.io Dubai Desert Classic, the South African struggled with the putter in hand. One of the longest hitters on the DP World Tour and with his irons flashing some form in his two starts this year, Burmester could be in store for a nice debut if the putter cooperates.

After opening his SA Open Championship with rounds of 71-74, Burmester was out of position heading into the weekend. With six bogeys and a double-bogey, the 32-year-old was simply making too many mistakes up to the halfway point. Standing at 1-over, Burmester turned it on over the course of 36-holes, playing the final half in 12-under. Carding rounds of 66-66, the South African climbed his way into a solo fourth-place finish and five-strokes behind eventual winner, Daniel van Tonder.

It has been a nice 2021 for Burmester as the South African has not only captured a title on the European Tour, but also the Sunshine Tour. Winning the Tenerife Open in early May, the 32-year-old more recently captured the PGA Championship on the Sunshine Tour just a couple weeks ago. Finishing in a tie for sixth at the DP World Tour Championship, Burmester found himself alongside Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter in the final event of the 2021 season. Looking to carry the momentum into the new season, Burmester arrives to Randpark Golf Club as the tournament-favorite, despite never finishing inside the top 10 in his eight previous starts in the Joburg Open.