DYLAN NAIDOO: WINNER OF THE 114TH INVESTEC SOUTH AFRICAN OPEN

Written by: Kamogelo Mogale

Dylan Naidoo has been crowned 2025 Investec South African Open champion after he edged England’s Laurie Canter during the playoffs at the Durban Country Club on Sunday.

Naidoo and Canter were locked together at the top of the leaderboard on 14-under-par after three rounds, and looked set to take the game down to the wire but the biggest triumph of the South African came after the fourth round was first suspended and then cancelled due to a flooded course.

It was then decided that the two of them would settle this year’s championship in a playoff on the par-four 18th. And with the weight of history resting on his young shoulders, Naidoo stood tall as he made the birdie on the first playoff hole that shook South African golf history.

The victory sees Dylan Naidoo become the first South African player of colour to win the Investec South African Open. He has also secured a DP World Tour card and also claimed one of the three spots on offer for The Open at Royal Portrush this July on a magical Sunday.

In addition, Naidoo goes to the top of the Sunshine Order of Merit with just the Joburg Open and the two playoff events left on the schedule and there will be much more in store if he can hold on to that top spot.

The Joburg Open is set to get underway from the 6th of March till the 9th of March 2025 and it remains to be seen if he will hold on to the top spot of the Sunshine Order of Merit.