Bryson DeChambeau defeated Jon Rahm in a sudden-death playoff to claim the inaugural LIV Golf South Africa title at the Club at Steyn City in Johannesburg. Both finished regulation at 26-under par, with DeChambeau birdieing the par-5 18th in the first extra hole from a challenging mud-ball lie. The event drew massive crowds in a festival atmosphere with music and local culture, selling out tickets up to R75,000 and marking one of LIV Golf's biggest successes, with a confirmed return in April 2027.
Bryson DeChambeau captured the LIV Golf South Africa crown on Sunday, sealing the win with a 3-wood birdie on the first playoff hole against Jon Rahm after both tied at 26-under par through 72 holes. It was DeChambeau's second LIV victory of the 2026 season—following Singapore—and his fifth overall. His Crushers team (with Paul Casey, Charles Howell III, and Anirban Lahiri) won the team title at 76-under par, one shot ahead of South Africa's Southern Guards, led by Louis Oosthuizen, who nearly joined the playoff but missed by one putt.
The tournament attracted thousands daily, exceeding 100,000 attendees amid a lively vibe with performances by DJ Black Coffee, comparisons to LIV's Adelaide event, and a Presidents Cup-scale spectacle infused with music, art, and culture by architect Ross Hallett. DeChambeau, treated like a rock star, signed autographs for hours, tossed his hat to fans shouting 'I LOVE YOU GUYS,' and grew emotional amid cheers including South Africa's national anthem. He praised the energy: 'This is what LIV is supposed to be,' calling it the best LIV event ever after stops in Hong Kong and Singapore, while noting personal challenges.
South Africa's Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie was pivotal, securing government support via a handshake deal with LIV CEO Scott O'Neil at last year's Korea event and declaring, 'LIV Golf is never leaving this continent again... We’re going to be here 2027, 2028, 2029, 20-forever.' President Cyril Ramaphosa attended, and LIV confirmed the next edition for April 22-25, 2027. Paul Casey highlighted the 'product-market fit,' saying, 'There aren’t many tournaments in the world like this one.' Sponsors included Coca-Cola, Castle Light, and Saudi firms like Roshn.
