Tag: 2023 ISPS Handa Australian Open

Pair of LIV Golf players pick up DP World Tour wins in South Africa, Australia

It was a LIV Golf takeover on the DP World Tour this weekend.

It was a LIV Golf takeover on the DP World Tour this weekend.

Joaquin Niemann made an eagle on the second playoff hole to defeat Rikuya Hoshino and become the first South American winner of the ISPS Handa Australian Open at the Australian Golf Club in Sydney on Sunday. The 25-year-old Chilean had a chance to earn his victory a hole prior with an even shorter eagle putt but missed.

“It was a nice day. These last two playoff holes showed how I have been playing the last few weeks here in Australia,” said Niemann. “My putting hasn’t been the best, but I’ve been working hard on it and it was nice to make that last putt.

Down in South Africa, Dean Burmester went back-to-back with a three-shot win at the Investec South African Open Championship. Burmester won last week’s Joburg Open, also by three shots.

“Back-to-back. I’ve never done that before so that was special,” Burmester said after the round. “It’s obviously one as a South African that I’ve always wanted to win. To be involved in this tournament and to win it, with a bank that used to sponsor me and got me off the ground when I was just a kid, is super special … so to be the SA Open champion is something I’ll never forget.”

Investec South African Open Championship
Dean Burmester celebrates with the trophy after winning during day four of the Investec South African Open Championship at Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate on December 03, 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

Burmester finished the season 14th on LIV Golf’s points list for 2023 thanks to five top-10 showings, including a third place finish in Orlando. Niemann was a bit further down in 21st, also with five top-10 finishes.

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Min Woo Lee, leading by 3, is in position to pull off the Australian double

Min Woo Lee is an electric factory.

Min Woo Lee is an electric factory.

The 25-year-old Australian, at a career-high 38th in the Official World Golf Ranking, is in position for the Aussie double, leading the ISPS Handa Australian Open by three shots heading to the weekend. Last week, he won the Australian PGA Championship.

Lee shot 7-under 64 on Friday at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney, including a phenomenal tap-in eagle on his closing hole. Playing from the pine straw, Lee hit a towering draw over water, and it landed on the green and spun toward the hole, leaving him an easy putt to finish his last eight holes in 6 under.

Lee sits at 12 under for the tournament and is three shots ahead of Scotland’s Connor Syme and American Patrick Rodgers.

“It’s always nice to make an eagle whenever, but on the last hole, it’s even nicer,” Lee said. “I didn’t think that we could beat last week’s crowds, but we’ve very nearly done it before the weekend, so it’s unreal. It’s really fun. Most of my golf has been really good because of the crowd and the support, and I’m really happy for that.”

Adam Scott and Cam Smith are in a tie for 27th at 4 under. Last week, Smith missed the cut at the Australian PGA, where he was the defending champion.

In the women’s competition, South Korea’s Jiyai Shin holds a two-shot lead over defending champion Ashleigh Buhai of South Africa following a 4-under 68 at The Australian.