The DP World Tour stays in South Africa this week for the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Traditionally played at the iconic Leopard Creek Country Club, this year’s edition moves to Royal Johannesburg Golf Club while Leopard Creek undergoes maintenance. We break down the tournament from a betting perspective and highlight a few plays for you to consider.
Course
This week’s event is staged on the East Course at Royal Johannesburg. The par 72 layout measures 7,656 yards (7,001 metres) from the championship tees, although the Johannesburg altitude helps it play a touch shorter than the card suggests. Even so, it is a serious test and is affectionately known by locals as “East the Beast” because small mistakes can quickly turn into big numbers.
The East Course is a classic parkland design with:
- Tree-lined fairways, where positioning from the tee is more important than raw power.
- Kikuyu fairways and rough and bentgrass greens, which tend to be quick and true if conditions are firm (there has been a lot of rain in the build up to the tournament).
- Plenty of bunkers placed in typical landing zones and around the greens, demanding precise club selection.
- Water hazards in key spots, most notably on some of the par 5s and long par 4s, which keep players honest on both drives and approaches.
The course has a rich championship pedigree. It has hosted multiple South African Opens and PGAs and was the long-time home of the Joburg Open, a co-sanctioned European Tour event.
In summary, the East Course rewards accurate drivers and strong ball strikers who can control trajectory at altitude, hit a high percentage of greens in regulation and scramble well when they do miss. Birdies are available, but anyone spraying it off the tee into trees, bunkers or kikuyu rough will struggle to feature over four rounds.
Past Winners
2024 Shaun Norris (South Africa) -13 1 stroke
2023 Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) -18 2 strokes
2022 Ockie Strydom (South Africa) -18 2 strokes
2021 Cancelled due to Covid-19
2020 Christiaan Bezuidenhout (South Africa) -14 2 strokes
Golf Playoff Promo
- Bets must be placed before the start of Round 1
- Pre-match bets only
- Single / straight bets only
- Free Bets do not qualify for this offer
- Refund must be claimed within 24 hours of the tournament finishing
- Free Bet vouchers received must be used within 7 days
- Maximum refund per account per day in Free Bets applies
- Free Bet terms and conditions apply
- To claim, email promotions@wsb.co.za with the subject “Golf Playoff” within 24 hours of the tournament finishing
Betting – Click here to bet
Christiaan Bezuidenhout 9.00
Angel Ayora 12.00
Jayden Schaper 12.00
Dean Burmester 17.00
Branden Grace 19.00
Thriston Lawrence 23.00
SELECTIONS:
Shaun Norris at 71.00
Norris arrives as the defending Champion after lifting the trophy last year. While this year’s event takes place at a different venue, he comes in with some momentum following a solid fifth-place finish at last week’s Nedbank Challenge. He hit a brilliant run of form around this time last season, and if he can rediscover anything close to that level, he has every chance of mounting a strong title defence.
Shaun Norris each way at 71.00
Angel Ayora at 12.00
Ayora extended his superb run of form again last week, securing a fourth consecutive top-10 finish. It feels like only a matter of time before he gets over the final hurdle and claims a victory, and if he can maintain this level, the Spaniard looks well-placed to make that breakthrough this weekend.
Angel Ayora each way at 12.00
Casey Jarvis at 34.00
Jarvis has enjoyed a strong year on the DP World Tour, showcasing his talent despite being only 22. He returned to the Sunshine Tour at the end of the season and immediately hit top gear, winning back-to-back events before adding a 10th-place finish in his last three starts. With South Africans having won each of the last four Alfred Dunhill Championships, and given the form Jarvis is carrying into the week, he looks to have a very real chance of contending for the title.
Casey Jarvis each way at 34.00
Click here for all the Alfred Dunhill Championship 2025 Markets
Note: All prices correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
