After years of fighting a career-threatening hip injury, South Africa’s Richard Sterne earned more than just a share of third place at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on Sunday; he reclaimed belief in his future on the DP World Tour.
Sterne, once ranked 29th in the world, carded a final-round 71 at Carnoustie to finish on 13 under par, tied for third with England’s John Parry in the weather-shortened 54-hole tournament. The event was won by Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre, who delighted the home crowd with a closing 66 on the Old Course at St Andrews to finish at 18 under, just days after starring in Europe’s Ryder Cup victory.
But for Sterne, the week marked a significant personal breakthrough.
“The golf has been trending in the right direction for me,” said the 42-year-old, who has battled chronic hip issues for much of the past decade. “It’s great to get a good finish at an event like this because I really needed it. I’ve put in a lot of work to get to where I am, and I’m starting to enjoy the game a lot more as well.”
Sterne’s six DP World Tour titles came between 2004 and 2013, but injuries steadily derailed his progress, leaving him sidelined for long stretches and often questioning whether he’d ever return to elite form.
“There is still more work to do, but I’m enjoying it and looking forward to the fact that at least I’ve got my DP World Tour card after being under all that pressure,” he added.
That sense of relief and resurgence was echoed by fellow South Africans in the field. Louis Oosthuizen, playing alongside Sterne at the historic Old Course, finished tied 11th on 11 under par after a closing 72. While not in contention for the title, Oosthuizen; himself no stranger to injury setbacks; showed consistency in his game ahead of the season's final stretch.
Also making notable moves were Zander Lombard and Herman Loubser, who both finished on nine under par in a share of 21st. For Lombard, the result marked a step forward in a comeback season following a 10-month absence due to knee surgery.
“I’ve felt like I’ve been playing well and just not scoring,” said Lombard. “It seems like it’s all coming together at the right time now towards the end of the year and with some big tournaments to come.”
With a South African presence scattered throughout the top 25 and a veteran star like Sterne showing renewed form, the Dunhill Links proved not just a celebration of Scottish golf but also a timely boost for a group of players rebuilding both their games and their careers.
For Sterne, in particular, the result might mark more than a return to form; it could be the beginning of a new chapter in a career once nearly written off.