LIV Golf: Top-ranked South African golfer to join rebel tour

LIV Golf is expected to add Dean Burmester to its ranks on Monday with the star South African expected to quit the PGA TOUR.

Burmester only just joined the PGA TOUR from the DP World Tour but the attraction of LIV Golf and its riches is seemingly too much to ignore.

LIV Golf recruiting heavily

The big-hitting South African is widely rumoured to joined the latest bunch of players joining LIV Golf, the Saudi-funded tour, like South Americans Mito Pereira and Sebastian Munoz and Belgian Thomas Pieters. He will be the fourth player on Louis Oosthuizen’s Stinger GC team.

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Since the LIV Golf tour has reduced world ranking points for Oosthuizen, his new Stinger teammate is currently the top-ranked player in South Africa.

Burmester adds his driving skills to the team which includes Oosthuizen as captain and Major winner Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace.

Out go Norris and Du Plessis

Last season, Shaun Norris, who plays mainly on the Japan Tour, was the fourth member on the South African LIV Golf squad.

He was occasionally replaced by Hennie du Plessis, who now appears out in the LIV Golf cold.

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Burmester played his way to a 2022/23 PGA Tour card via the Korn Ferry Tour Finals and has played in eight events so far this PGA Tour season. He has missed just one cut. So far this season his best result remains his fourth-placed finish at the Sanderson Farms Championship,

Burmester’s status in the world of golf

Now 33, Burmester won his first DP World Tour title at the 2017 Tshwane Open, with his second coming at the 2021 Tenerife Open.

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He has seven wins on the Sunshine Tour, including the 2021 South African PGA Championship.

Burmester has played in six Majors, with his best finish coming at the 150th Open last year where he was T11th.

The first LIV Golf event will be played in Mayakoba in Mexico from 26-28 February.

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