Alfred Dunhill Championship stars hoping to strike gold at Royal Johannesburg

The Alfred Dunhill Championship’s return to Johannesburg for the first time in two decades has been like a trip down memory lane for several stars in this week’s field as they drove through the gates of Royal Johannesburg.

Every #DunhillChamps winner throughout the years.

Who will add their name on Sunday to this illustrious list? ⛳#DunhillChamps pic.twitter.com/5TcIyUyA0S — Alfred Dunhill Championship (@dunhilllinks) December 9, 2025

This premier Sunshine Tour and DP World Tour co-sanctioned tournament has brought a field which includes an impressive gathering of former Alfred Dunhill Championship winners led by Major champion Louis Oosthuizen.

Many of them have very personal reasons for looking forward to the challenge of the famed East Course, which is ranked within the top three in Gauteng.

Shaun Norris returns as the defending champion after what he described as a career-defining victory in this tournament at Leopard Creek last year, and now playing an East Course he has always enjoyed.

“Winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship last year was massive for me. Every South African wants to win this tournament, and it was a special week for me,” said Norris.

“There’s a little bit of extra emotion in a week when you’re defending a title because you always want to try and defend. It’s also nice to be in Johannesburg and staying at home, so I’m a little bit more relaxed. This has always been a great golf course and as South Africans we all love it. It’s a demanding test.”

Former champions Branden Grace, still the only golfer to have won both the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, and Richard Sterne will relish the prospect of returning to an East Course where they’ve both won titles in their careers.

Germany’s Marcel Siem is simply enjoying being back in Johannesburg where in January of 2004 he won the Alfred Dunhill Championship when it was still played in the city of gold before moving to its traditional home of Leopard Creek.

“It feels like I’m defending the title 21 years later. It feels great to be back here. I was still a baby at 24 years old. I remember the playoff with Gregory Havret and Raphael Jacquelin. It was the kickstart to my career. It meant a lot, and all the people in Joburg were so nice to me,” said Siem.

A look at our venue this week for the Alfred Dunhill Championship. 😍#ADC2025 #DunhillLinks pic.twitter.com/CeHJmvGyrR — Sunshine Tour (@Sunshine_Tour) December 9, 2025

Rising South African star Casey Jarvis is back at the golf course where he achieved the crowning glory of his amateur career in winning the South African Amateur in 2020. He comes into this week in impressive form after winning twice in three weeks on the Sunshine Tour last month.

“I’m feeling very confident. To get the two wins is very special. It’s nice to head into a week like this on a golf course I know very well, and with some confidence,” he said.

Young Spanish sensation Angel Ayora also has fond memories of Alfred Dunhill Championship tournaments in general. He finished tied fifth in last year’s Alfred Dunhill Championship, and tied fifth in this year’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

“It’s just a special event for me. I love being here in South Africa as well – the people, the food, the golf courses. And the weather. I prefer to play in hot climates. I’m just happy to be here again in this tournament,” he said.