LIV Golf Rebel takes advantage of a qualification loophole to secure a spot in The Open.
Dean Burmester’s official global golf ranking fell from 55th to 154th after joining LIV Golf earlier this year, but he managed to qualify for The Open Championship.
Dean Burmester won the Joburg Open, a major qualifying tournament, and will participate in the Open Championship the following year.
Despite quitting the European Tour and being in the breakaway league, the South African, who signed with LIV Golf in February of this year, has found a means to participate in The Open. The DP World Tour co-sanctions the Johannesburg Open, which is a component of the Sunshine Tour.
Burmester qualified for the competition and will be at Royal Troon the following summer after taking first place in the Open Qualifying Series. This year, the 34-year-old’s global rating has fallen from 55th to 154th, and the qualifying tournament gave him entry.
There are three other ways to get into the major: winning local qualifying, having a high enough global ranking, or receiving an exemption (at the tournament’s discretion). Burmester finished Sunday without making a bogey, earning his tenth career event victory, three strokes ahead of the closest competitor.
For the South African, who won his first-ever tournament on the Sunshine Tour ten years ago, it’s a pleasant complete circle. After his victory at home, he remarked, “I actually can’t describe what’s really happened.” “The fans are always fantastic at home in South Africa and I’m so happy to be home and playing at home and eating a bit of braai meat and having a good time.”
“It sounds pretty cool to be the Joburg Open champion,” he stated. “Winning is incredible; I’ve been playing this event for a very long time. When I came home, that was my aim.
It’s incredibly special for me to come here and win a tournament in my home country in front of my home supporters with some of my family here, even though I haven’t won this year despite playing well.”
Burmester participated in the 2021 Open and tied for 40th place. Burmester also finished 11th in the 2022 Open, the same competition that fellow LIV Golf rebel Cameron Smith won. He declared, “I love The Open Championship,” after earning a spot in the 2024 competition. I think the best spectacle I have ever seen was the 150th Open at St Andrews, where I played. They put up one of golf’s most memorable displays.
Dean Burmester has earned a spot in the 2024 Open. “I’m excited to go to Troon; I know it will be a good test, but I also know it will be difficult. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate,” he said. The purest form of golf is links golf, so winning in my native nation is quite meaningful. It was certainly the competition I was most interested in winning as a child, and perhaps I can give myself a chance over my four days there.”
Burmester has had a successful year with LIV Golf, even though PGA Tour supporters first made fun of the Saudi-backed league for signing a novice rather than a well-known player.
He joined Louis Oosthuizen’s Stinger GC team and finished 14th in the individual standings with five top 10 finishes.
