Dean Burmester crossed golf’s broad divide this week to win the Joburg Open.
The LIV Golf member carded a superb final-round 64 in South Africa to win his third DP World Tour title by three shots.
Burmester joined the Saudi-funded series at the start of 2023 but was allowed to play this week through the national spots category.
With this victory, Burmester will be part of the LIV contingent heading to the 152nd Open at Royal Troon next year.
“I can’t describe what’s happened,” he said. “I was a little rusty coming in, but honestly, my team did such a great job in getting me ready for this week.
“The two or three days preparation we did have was fantastic, and it paid off and then the fans are always fantastic back home in South Africa.”
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Burmester won twice on the circuit before making the switch for the start of LIV’s second season.
He came 14th in LIV’s standings this season, meaning he earned a spot in the 2024 schedule without a worry of finding a new team.
Players such as Bernd Wiesberger, who has been granted his DP World Tour membership back, and Graeme McDowell became free agents without contracts after the LIV season finished.
Fellow LIV and Stinger GC players Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace also teed it up at Houghton GC.
Each player from Greg Norman’s league who played this week is no longer a member of the DP World Tour and has no outstanding sanctions.
A handful of the LIV roster including Cameron Smith and Joaquin Niemann also played in the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship which was won by Min Woo Lee.
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