South Africa has produced some of the most legendary moments in golf history — from Gary Player’s career Grand Slam to Charl Schwartzel’s epic finish at The Masters.
In this countdown, we showcase the Top 5 Greatest South African Golf Moments that stunned the world, won majors, and brought glory to the nation.
🎯 Featuring:
Trevor Immelman (2008 Masters Champion)
Louis Oosthuizen (2010 Open Championship)
Charl Schwartzel (Historic 2011 Masters Birdie Finish)
Ernie Els (Dramatic 2012 Open Comeback)
Gary Player (Career Grand Slam Completion – 1965)
💬 Which moment is YOUR favorite? Drop a comment below and tell us!
🔔 Don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and Turn on Notifications for more iconic South African sport highlights.
#GolfHighlights #SouthAfricaGolf #SASportFanatic #Top5Golf #GaryPlayer #CharlSchwartzel #TrevorImmelman #LouisOosthuizen #ErnieEls
👇 WATCH MORE HIGHLIGHTS HERE 👇
🇿🇦 FOLLOW US ON SOCIALS 🇿🇦
➡️ Tiktok – https://www.tiktok.com/@sasportfanatic?_t=ZM-8wU0LgNZyVx&_r=1
➡️ Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sasportfanatic?igsh=MWs0ZzdxeXplNHFwbA==
[Music] Coming in at number five, Trevor Imlman’s unforgettable triumph at the 2008 Masters Tournament. Stepping onto the hallowed grounds of Augusta National. Immelman was an underdog in a field loaded with golfing giants, including none other than Tiger Woods, who was dominating the sport at the time. But from the very first round, Trevor played with incredible focus and calm. He held the lead after each day, a rare feat known as a wire-to-wire victory. Through swirling winds and the pressure of Sunday at Augusta, Immelman didn’t crack. Even with a final round 75, not typically a winning score, his earlier dominance gave him the cushion he needed. He held off a surging field and secured the green jacket, finishing at eight under par, three shots ahead of Woods. It was a defining moment not just for Immelman, but for South African golf as a whole, making him only the second South African in history to win the Masters after the legendary Gary Player. A poised, disciplined, and emotional win that reminded the world of South Africa’s deep golfing legacy. and earned Immelman a place in the record books [Music] forever. At number four, we go back to the 2010 Open Championship at St. Andrews where Lewis Heisen, a relatively unknown figure at the time, delivered one of the most dominant major victories in modern golf history. Coming into the tournament ranked 54th in the world, Louie wasn’t on anyone’s short list of favorites. But that would change quickly. From the very beginning, Taisen showcased a picture perfect swing, effortless tempo, and calm beyond his years. By the end of round two, he had surged to the top of the leaderboard, leaving golf fans around the world asking, “Who is this guy from South Africa?” As the pressure mounted and conditions worsened on the famed old course at St. Andrews, the birthplace of golf. Louie didn’t flinch. He played like a veteran, threading drives through crosswinds, nailing greens in regulation and putting with coldblooded consistency. While some of the sport’s biggest names faltered, Husen only got stronger. By the final round, his lead had ballooned. Competitors tried to close the gap, but it was too late. With a final score of 16 underpar, Lewis claimed the Clarret Jug by a staggering seven strokes, finishing ahead of England’s Lee Westwood. It was one of the biggest blowouts in open championship history. The victory etched his name alongside South African legends like Gary Player, Bobby Lockach, and Ernie L’s, making him the fourth South African to ever win the Open Championship. More than just a win, this was a coming out party. A statement to the world that South Africa continues to produce champions of the highest caliber. Calm, clinical, and commanding. Louie Tyizen’s performance in 2010 was not just a win. It was a masterclass in major championship golf. Coming in at number three, a finish so dramatic, so improbable that it etched Charles Schwarzel’s name into Mast’s history forever. It’s the 2011 Masters tournament and the scene at Augusta National was pure chaos. A packed leaderboard. Household names like Tiger Woods, Rory Mroy, Adam Scott, and Jeff Ogulvie, all battling for the green jacket. What we didn’t know then was that Charles Schwarzel, the calm and composed South African, was about to deliver one of the greatest finishes in major championship history. Schwarzel’s Sunday didn’t start with fireworks. It started with precision. On the very first hole, he chipped in from off the green for Birdie, setting the tone for the day. Then on the third, he hauled out for Eagle from the fairway. But even with those early highlights, the tournament remained wide open. A true dog fight with multiple leaders shifting every few holes. As the pressure intensified on the back nine, Rory Mroy, the overnight leader, collapsed under the weight of expectations. Others surged, but none could separate. Then came Schwarzel’s moment, one of the most iconic closing stretches the sport has ever seen. Standing on the 15th T, tied for the lead, Charles knew the margin for error was gone. And that’s when he found something special. Birdie on 15, then 16, then 17, then 18. Four consecutive birdies to close out the Masters. Something no player in the long storied history of Augusta National had ever done before. Not Nicholas, not Woods, not Palmer. His final round 66 gave him a two-shot victory and with it he joined Gary Player and Trevor Imlman as the only South Africans to dawn the green jacket. But even more than the win, it was the way he won with nerves of steel, ice in his veins, and a level of composure you simply can’t teach. Schwarzel’s incredible forie finish isn’t just a South African sporting moment. It’s a global golfing legend. a masterclass in clutch performance that no one who watched it will ever forget. At number two, we have one of the most inspiring and emotionally charged moments in South African golf history. Ernie L’s incredible comeback victory at the 2012 Open Championship. It had been a full decade since the Big Easy last held the Claret Jug. Once the dominant force in golf, Ernie had faced years of near misses, putting woes and rising stars eclipsing his place on the big stage. Many wondered if his best days were behind him. But at Royal Life and St. Ans, in the unrelenting winds of the English coast, Ernie El’s reminded the world and perhaps even himself that legends never fade. Heading into the final round, Adam Scott held a commanding lead. Young, confident, and chasing his first major title. Scott looked poised to cruise to victory. Meanwhile, Ernie remained patient, steady, but was still four shots back with just four holes remaining. The title seemed out of reach. And then the tide began to turn. While Scott, under immense pressure, began to unravel, bogeying the 15th, then the 16th, and again on 17, Ernie made his move. Calm as ever, he delivered a brilliant birdie on the par4 18th. A tricky finishing hole lined with bunkers and surrounded by deafening anticipation. That birdie would prove to be the dagger when Adam Scott bogeied the 18th, his fourth consecutive bogey. The leaderboard flipped. Ernie L’s at age 42 had completed one of the most dramatic final round turnarounds in open championship history. His final round of 68 finished at seven under par. And suddenly, after a decade of waiting, frustration, and countless doubters, Ernie was a major champion once again. The moment he realized he’d won wasn’t one of wild celebration. It was quiet, emotional, dignified, a testament to the man himself. You could see the weight of the years lifted in a single smile. Ernie later said he felt for Adam Scott. He’d been there, too. But this time, the golf gods gave him his due. For South African fans, it was more than just another trophy. It was redemption, resilience, and a reminder that greatness never truly disappears. In the twilight of his career, Ernie El’s gave us a moment of magic that will live forever. A masterful performance, a gracious victory, and a story only golf and the Big Easy could write. And finally, at number one, the moment that changed everything, Gary Player, the Black Knight, completing the career grand slam in 1965. At just 29 years old, Player captured the US Open at Bellere Country Club in Missouri and in doing so became only the third golfer in history. after Jean Sarizen and Ben Hogan to win all four of golf’s major championships, the Masters, the Open Championship, the PGA Championship, and the US Open. But this wasn’t just a win for Gary Player. It was a monumental victory for South Africa, for Global Golf, and for the idea that a player from outside America or Europe could rise to the absolute summit of the sport. The US Open had been the one major that eluded him. He had come close before, but in 1965, he finally broke through. On a tough, grinding course that demanded patience and power, Gary stayed sharp under pressure, sinking clutch putts and navigating treacherous roughs with precision. He finished tied with Kel Nagel and then won in an 18-hole playoff, sealing his place in golf immortality. In that moment, player didn’t just claim a grand slam. He rewrote the boundaries of what was possible for golfers from beyond the traditional powerhouses. He became a symbol of grit, ambition, and global excellence. And he didn’t stop there. Gary Player went on to win nine major championships, claim over 160 professional tournament victories worldwide.
