More than a tournament: Why LIV Golf’s Mzansi stop matters to SA’s team Stinger GC

The LIV Golf League and its players have no idea what awaits them in South Africa next year.

According to Stinger GC captain Louis Oosthuizen and teammates Dean Burmester and Branden Grace, it won’t be a shock, but a thunderous reception driven by one of the most passionate sporting crowds in the world.

After a season of ups and downs on the LIV Golf League, South Africa’s Stinger GC are ready to harness that homegrown energy as the tour makes its long-awaited stop in the City of Gold from 19-22 March at Steyn City.

The past year tested the Stingers, with Masters winner Charl Schwartzel as the fourth, in every sense.

Adapting to LIV Golf’s fast-paced, team-focused format came with challenges, and results did not always reflect the depth of experience within the squad. Yet amid the frustration were encouraging signs of progress, including improved team cohesion, sharper performances and a growing belief that the pieces are falling into place.

For Oosthuizen, the journey has been about patience and perspective. There were weeks where the team felt close to breaking through and others that delivered valuable lessons. Those lessons, accumulated over the season, have strengthened the foursome and sharpened their competitive edge.

Now, they are ready to hit the ground running next season.

“We’ve accomplished a lot this year, bringing a LIV tournament to South Africa is a massive milestone,” Oosthuizen said in an exclusive interview with Independent Newspapers at the Stinger GC Foundation Golf Day.

“We’ve been telling everyone that Australia was big, but South Africa might even be bigger. We are such a passionate sporting country. The ticket sales show that people are hungry to come and watch the golf.

“For us, there is maybe also a mental note to make ahead of next year. That kind of support can either fuel you or drain you. We need to be prepared for that. However, we are just excited to play in front of our own people.

“We finished our best season yet in 2025, ending third in the finals of the league. Our previous best was fourth. We had a chance in the finals, but we were up against two quality teams. As four friends and a team growing the Stinger brand, we can keep our heads high.”

Burmeister and Grace share that optimism, and they are looking forward to what the South African leg will bring. With ticket sales for the four-day event nearing sell-outs across all days, anticipation is building for a showcase of elite golf played in front of a deeply invested home crowd.

LIV Golf also announced the scheduled entertainment lineup on Friday, with the internationally acclaimed DJ Calvin Harris headlining the performances. Local artists include the renowned DJ Black Coffee, while Goldfish is set to perform on Sunday.

The scale of support is expected to be immense, with South African fans known for creating an atmosphere that energises players and elevates competition. The trio believe that passion, noise and national pride will set the Johannesburg event apart and leave a lasting impression on the rest of the LIV field.

What they are also excited about is for local people to watch their golfing heroes in the flesh for the first time in the country. They believe it will spark a massive interest in golf locally.

Grace recalled a special moment as a youngster that paved the way for golf to become his profession.

“I am excited for the kids; they will have the opportunity to see their heroes in front of them. They will love it. I was like that at Fancourt when the President’s Cup was played here in 2003.

“I ran up to the driving range, and there were two players practicing. It was Tiger Woods and Charles Howell III. It was only the two of them, with not a person in sight. I felt that is where the bug bit me, watching them practice, and I feel Steyn City is the place where the bug will bite a lot of kids and take things to the next level.”

The connection of the team to South Africa and specifically the Southern Cape was evident this past week at the Stinger GC Foundation’s annual golf day at Pinnacle Point. The event brought together players, partners and supporters in aid of causes close to the team’s heart, including iPapa – a feeding scheme, Leolan Academy, Stinger GC Kids With Cancer and the Connected Conservation Foundation.

More than a fundraiser, it underscored the Stingers’ commitment to making a meaningful impact beyond the greens, while they look to maintain the gold standard on the course to bring joy to their supporters.

“I was fortunate to see for the first time this year what iPapa does for the community,” Burmester said.

“Giving children a nutritious meal once a day is amazing. It is good to see how many children we can help by chasing a white golf ball around the world; it is crazy. We are able to provide them with something that could change their life forever and give them a stepping stone into Grade 1. It is a special feeling and something you can’t replace.

“All this money goes to amazing use through the Foundation to the causes we support and the Stinger GC Academy, where we will hopefully create the next Louis Oosthuizen or Branden Grace. It is second to none.”