Christiaan Bezuidenhout will achieve another milestone in his already impressive career when he makes his first title defence in the South African Open at Sun City’s Gary Player Country Club.

Bezuidenhout won last year’s South African Open in a golden summer for him in which he also clinched the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek.

The PGA Tour campaigner says he’s particularly looking forward to returning to Sun City and defending his title from 2-5 December.

“It was really special to tick the goal of winning the South African Open. I came close to winning it in 2016, but it wasn’t my time then. To have done it last year and put my name on that trophy alongside so many of my golf idols is amazing.

“This will be the first tournament in my career where I’m defending, so I’m really looking forward to it. I really like the golf course and the atmosphere at Sun City.”

Bezuidenhout will be joined in the field by fellow PGA Tour campaigner Dylan Frittelli, who finished third behind Bezuidenhout last year, former South African Open champions Brandon Stone, Hennie Otto, Richard Sterne and James Kingston, and a wealth of Sunshine Tour and European Tour champions this year.

Bezuidenhout said he believes strongly in coming back to support the Sunshine Tour events, and particularly the second-oldest national Open in golf.

“It’s always important to give back in this game and to never forget where you come from, and the path you took to get where you are now. I will always go out of my way to try and support the South African events as best as I can.”

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