Garrick Higgo’s triumph at the Gran Canaria Lopesan Open this past Sunday was the seventh by a South African player on the European Tour since lockdown – the second most by any country on Tour. Here’s a recap of every victory from golf’s restart during the Covid-19 pandemic.
George Coetzee – Portugal Masters (September 2020)
His fifth European Tour triumph but his very first in Europe. A week after winning on the Rise-Up Series in Pretoria, Coetzee delivered a flawless effort to edge to a two-shot victory. It was also his first win not co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour.
Garrick Higgo – Open de Portugal (September 2020)
A week later, Higgo made it two in two weeks for South Africa by coming out on top at the Royal Óbidos Spa & Golf Resort. The youngster was pushed till the very end by Spain’s Pep Angles, but stood firm and showed a great deal of maturity to claim his first victory on Tour by one shot.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout – Alfred Dunhill Championship (November 2020)
It was the beginning of a special two weeks on the ‘Summer Swing’ of the European Tour as Bezuidenhout dominated at Leopard Creek. The South African delivered a masterclass in the African bush to seal a four-stroke victory.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout – South African Open (December 2020)
Bezuidenhout’s dominance continued a week later at Sun City where he secured a famous win at the prestigious SA Open event. This time there was no stopping him as he romped to a masterclass showing with a five-shot win.
Justin Harding – Magical Kenya Open (March 2021)
In also his second triumph on the Tour, Harding held firm with a spectacular weekend in Nairobi where rounds of 64 and 66 on the Saturday and Sunday guided him to victory by two strokes, with American Kurt Kitayama settling for second place.
Daniel van Tonder – Kenya Savannah Classic (March 2021)
It was then Van Tonder’s turn to claim his maiden European Tour title. The 30-year-old made the inevitable breakthrough after an enthralling playoff battle with Thailand’s Jazz Janewattananond. Van Tonder, however, prevailed with a birdie on the third playoff hole.
Garrick Higgo – Gran Canaria Lopesan Open (April 2021)
A second victory on Tour at the age of only 21 says a lot about this young man’s character and maturity. Higgo was superb over the past weekend and played like a true professional. With calmness he kept his overnight lead, while extending it to an impressive three-stroke win despite a late push by Germany’s Maximilian Kieffer.
