Dylan Naidoo

Dylan Naidoo was ranked 466th in the world when he won the rain-shortened Investec South African Open at Durban Country Club in March.

As part of The Open Qualifying Series three Royal Portrush spots were on offer, but Naidoo, who shot 61 in the second round, claimed his in the way he must have dreamt of.

First played for in 1903, making it one of the oldest championships in the world, the 27-year-old joined a list of winners which includes Gary Player (13 times), Bobby Locke (nine), Ernie Els (five) and further Champion Golfers in Louis Oosthuizen, Henrik Stenson and Bob Charles.

With the final round being cancelled the Johannesburg golfer, joint runner-up behind John Parry in the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in December, went into a play-off with Laurie Canter and instantly birdied the par-4 18th after a superb chip to four feet to take his first DP World Tour title.

He spent two years studying business at the University of Arkansas and three years before turning professional in 2019 became the youngest-ever winner on the Big Easy Sunshine Tour. Also had success on the main circuit in 2022 when he was only just inside the game’s leading 1,000.