Southern Guards help toughen up Steyn City for LIV Golf South Africa showdown

South Africa’s Southern Guards GC are already hard at work preparing Steyn City for LIV Golf’s historic first event on African soil, intent on shaping the course into a home-ground advantage as they prepare to take on some of the world’s best players.

LIV Golf South Africa will hit Johannesburg from March 19 to 22, and the excitement among Dean Burmester, captain Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel is becoming palpable. The quartet are currently finalising preparations for the season-opening tournament in Riyadh, which starts in five days.

While the Southern Guards are eager for a strong start to the season, Burmester and his teammates are relishing the build-up to Steyn City.

The 36-year-old walked the course on Thursday alongside Schwartzel and said the team will look at where further changes can be made to ensure the layout brings the toughest possible challenge for their opponents, while still playing to their strengths.

The fairways were narrowed, the rough thickened, and the greenside fairway will also be a bit thicker, which Burmester explains the overseas players will have to adapt to.

“It is like going to play Test cricket in India, we want to try and make conditions more favourable to us,” Burmester said.

“All four of us have been involved in getting it in a great condition, the layout and setup and how we see the course for a tournament of this calibre. We wanted to be involved with it and take massive pride in this. The ideal situation would be if we could contend (for the title) and win. There will be that element of pressure. However, I think having the fans behind us will drive us.

“Initially, we might see the boys be a bit more nervous than usual, maybe more from my side, I definitely will be nervous. But to have people shouting for you when things are not going your way, that will boost you. That is what you need. As a South African, playing all over the world, things are not always in your favour. Guys really don’t like that we are the best team in the world. That plays a part (wherever we go).

“We gotta go out and prove that we can be one of the best teams in the LIV League.”

Burmester says he is excited for the season to start.

He was the most successful Southern Guards player last year, and together with the team, they will look to build on their overall third place to improve their standing. It is not just the LIV season that has him amped, though, as the South African will look to make his mark at the SA Open in February in Stellenbosch.

However, he feels everything must come together from the first tournament to build a platform for the rest of the year.

“I’ve put in some hard work over the last three weeks, and I have been diligent in my practice and training. I want to get off to a good start in Riyadh and ensure I am in a good headspace before I arrive there.

“We have two tournaments before the SA Open, and there is a lot up for grabs there. Not only is it special because it is our national tournament, but it is in Stellenbosch, and the tournament hasn’t been in the Cape in a while. I want to perform there.

“That will lead into the Hong Kong and Singapore LIV tournaments before the big one at Steyn City. By then, I want to be prepped and ready to give my best performance.”