South African Open Championship: Prediction, Tips and Odds

The DP World Tour has left Kenya but stayed in Africa, with the South African Open Championship starting on Thursday morning.

Jacques Kruyswijk won the Kenya Open on Sunday and the big-hitting South African is teeing up again this week seeking an even more satisfying success in his national Open. The aggressive powerhouse can be backed at 40/1 to complete back-to-back triumphs.

Kruyswijk's compatriot, Dean Burmester, is the clear favourite. The defending champion, who won at Blair Atholl Golf Estate in 2023 in the last South African Open, can be backed at 9/1 to retain his title. Burmester is a LIV Golf player who was last seen in action in LIV Adelaide, where he finished tied for 12th place.

Charl Schwartzel has never won the South African Open, so the 40-year-old carries great motivation this week. Like Burmester, he is a LIV Golf player who tied for 12th in Adelaide. Schwartzel is 28/1 to finally succeed in his national Open.

Laurie Canter, who won the Bahrain Championship at the start of this month, can be backed at 14/1 to follow up with SA Open glory. He won the South African Amateur Championship in 2010.

South African Open Championship betting tips and predictions

Wilco Nienaber to win and each-way - 33/1

The last six South African Opens have been won by a South African - and Wilco Nienaber will be fancying his chances of bolstering that statistic. 

This powerhouse won the NTT Data Pro Am by seven shots the week before last - an event co-sanctioned by the Challenge Tour and the Sunshine Tour - and he looks ready to strongly threaten for a maiden DP World Tour title.

Nienaber finished fourth in the DP World Tour Qualifying School in November, securing access to several DPWT events, and this week's tournament in his homeland provides a fantastic opportunity.

He has form figures of 11-15-12 from his last three SA Open starts and can get his name on the leaderboard again.

Angel Ayora to win and each-way - 25/1

Rising star Angel Ayora is another maiden who can be fancied to threaten a breakthrough at Durban Country Club this week. 

The 20-year-old Spaniard, who was promoted from the Challenge Tour last season after winning an event in September, has quickly shown a liking for South African venues.

Fifth place in the Alfred Dunhill Championship in December was a bold early effort as a DPWT member for Ayora - and he has followed up with a solid start to 2025. 

This sweet-swinger signed off from the Kenya Open last week with a pair of 69s, sharing 20th place, and it seems only a matter of time before he starts lifting silverware on this circuit.

Martin Couvra to win and each-way - 50/1

French youngster Martin Couvra has quickly established himself as a DPWT dangerman and he will be relishing another trip to South Africa. 

He won the South African Amateur in 2023 at a course which is only 15 minutes away from this week's venue.

Couvra has also excelled in South Africa on the DPWT and Challenge Tour, including 12th place in the 2023 South African Open and fourth in the 2024 Nelson Mandela Bay Championship. 

Given how bright he has been this year, with fourth place in the Bahrain Championship followed by fifth spot in the Qatar Masters, there is every reason to believe Couvra will contend in Durban on Sunday. 

It is also worth noting he won on the Challenge Tour when he was still an amateur.

Read more golf betting tips and predictions on site

South African Open Championship odds

Dean Burmester - 9/1
Laurie Canter - 14/1
Jayden Schaper - 25/1
Angel Ayora - 25/1
Charl Schwartzel - 28/1
John Parry - 28/1
Francesco Laporta - 30/1
Johannes Veerman - 30/1

View the full market and more odds for the South African Open Championship on site

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.