Unfancied SA quartet in search of historic victory at PGA Championship

They will fly in under the radar, with few of the elite global stars likely to take too much notice of the four-man South African contingent, but the quartet will all be dreaming of securing historic victories at the top-flight PGA Championship starting at Oak Hill Country Club on Thursday.

Their career records might not have their opponents shaking, with many of the world’s best players turning out at the Major tournament, but SA’s players are always strong enough to spring a surprise and they will be aiming to break some droughts this week.

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The nation’s history at the annual event is not great. Of the 22 Major titles won by SA players, only two have been achieved at the PGA Championship – by Gary Player in 1962 and 1972.

Louis Oosthuizen did finish in a tie for the runner-up spot in 2017 and 2021, but no South Africans have lifted the trophy since Player retired.

Long shots

And while Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Dean Burmester, Thriston Lawrence and Ockie Strydom will all be long shots to give the top of the field a shake, all four players will believe they have the credentials.

Bezuidenhout is the most experienced player in the field this week, having competed at all four Majors in his career, while Burmester showed his class when he finished in a tie for 11th place at last year’s British Open.

Like Bezuidenhout, Lawrence is a three-time winner on the European Tour, and Strydom shouldn’t feel too much pressure in his first Major tournament.

No SA player has won a Major since Ernie Els wrapped up his last top-flight victory at the 2012 British Open, and it has been more than 50 years since Player last won the PGA Championship, so history is standing in their way and they will need to be ready for battle.

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But the SA quartet will no doubt all have a fire that burns in them before the opening round of any big tournament – when the scorecards are clean and all is level.

And if any of them are able to maintain their composure on such a big stage, it would be a memorable moment, ending some lengthy droughts. Historic indeed.