THE LIST

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WINNERS

The men's biggest stage is the PGA Tour and this month we look at the 14 South Africans who have triumphed more than once on that Tour

Compiled by Gary Lemke

24 Gary Player

The shining beacon, South Africa's greatest-ever golfer (many say greatest-ever sportsman) who often says that he has racked up more air miles than any other golfer on the planet. His 24 wins included his nine Majors, three of which were at The Open Championship (The 'British' Open is considered a PGA Tour event). Topped the PGA Tour money list in 1961 and was given the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement award in 2012.

First win: Kentucky Open (1958).
Biggest win: 4 strokes (1974 Open Championship).

19 Ernie Els

In 1994, at the 1994 US Open, playing partner Curtis Strange told media: 'I think I've just played with the next god of golf. How can somebody hit it that far and putt?' Els went on to win the first of his four Majors that week and his achievements were amplified by the fact that he also dominated on the European Tour, crossing continents and winning 28 times on that circuit as well. Was PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 1994 and given the Payne Stewart award in 2015.

First win: US Open (1994).
Biggest win: 8 strokes (1996 Buick Classic, 2003 Mercedes Championship).

15 Bobby Locke

His official number of PGA Tour wins is 15, but it could be double that. In two-and-a-half years on the PGA Tour, he played in 59 events; winning 11, and finishing in the top three 30 times. In 1949, Locke was banned from the Tour, officially because of a dispute over playing commitments, but many felt it was a shameful cop-out because he was 'too good'. His ban was lifted in 1950 but he chose to not return to the USA.

First win: Houston Open (1947).
Biggest win: 16 strokes (1948 Chicago Victory National Open).

1o

David Frost

After early success on the European Tour and Sunshine Tour, he joined the PGA Tour in 1985, where he led the tour in scoring average with 70.09. In 1993 he topped the putting statistics. His breakthrough came in 1988 with back-to-back victories, starting with the Southern Open, followed by the Northern Telecom Open at Tucson. These successes propelled him to prominence, culminating in a decade of consistency on the global stage.

First win: Southern Open (1988).
Biggest win: 8 strokes (1992 Buick Classic).

7 Retief Goosen

Two of the seven wins came in Majors, at the US Open and the first of which came via an 18-hole Monday playoff. South Africans know him as 'The Goose', but on the PGA Tour they called him 'The Iceman', which left no room for interpretation relating to his nerveless demeanour. In 2019, after transitioning to the seniors, he was recognised with the PGA Tour Champions Rookie of the Year and Byron Nelson awards.

First win: US Open (2001).
Biggest win: 4 strokes (2002 BellSouth Classic, The Tour Championship).

6 Rory Sabbatini

Born in South Africa in 1972, he learnt his trade in Durban before playing US Collegiate golf at the University of Arizona. Enjoyed a PGA Tour career where he made 374 cuts in 605 starts, with 80 top-10 finishes and 168 top 25s. He earned over $36-million in prize money and went on to switch his allegiance to Slovakia, where he won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021. Was also runner-up at the 2007 Masters.

First win: Air Canada Championship (2000).
Biggest win: 4 strokes (2003 FBR Capital Open).

3 Fulton Allem

A second-place finish at the 1987 NEC World Series of Golf convinced Allem to join the PGA Tour after a successful run on the Sunshine Tour where he had 11 professional wins. In 1993 he won the NEC World Series of Golf by five shots over a winners-only field before injuries began to derail his promising stay on the PGA Tour. In 1994, he was laid low by a herniated disc in his lower back that would go on to hamper his career.

First win: Independent Insurance Agent Open (1991).
Biggest win: 5 strokes (1993 NEC World Series Of Golf).

2 Charl Schwartzel

A career highlighted by his incredible Sunday back nine when he made birdies on the final four holes to win the 2011 Masters, his only Major and one of two successes on the PGA Tour. That helped him reach a career high world No6 in 2012. Ultra-consistent, he had 40 top 10 finishes in 253 PGA Tour events, including T2nd with Louis Ooosthuizen at the 2021 Zurich Classic.

First win: The Masters (2001).
Biggest win: 2 strokes (2001 Masters).

2 Trevor Immelman

Like Schwartzel, his career highlight was winning the Masters in 2008, but he had served notice that it was coming. At the age of 18 he had won the Junior PGA Championship in 1996 before turning pro in 1999. Was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year in 2006 and then finished 6th in the 2007 PGA Championship. A hugely respected figure, he is the chairman of the Official World Golf Ranking board.

First win: Cialis Western Open (2006).
Biggest win: 3 strokes (2008 Masters).

2 Branden Grace

Made Major Championship history in 2017 by shooting a third round 62 at the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale to break the record for lowest round in a Major. He had earned his PGA Tour privileges in 2016 in the 'Top 125 Non-Member' category, which had been due to his strong showings in the 2015 Majors and other PGA-recognised tournaments. He teed up 184 starts on the PGA Tour before joining LIV Golf in 2022.

First win: RBC Heritage (2016).
Biggest win: 2 strokes (2016 RBC Heritage).

2 Erik van Rooyen

One of only two South Africans on this list who is still a playing member of the Tour. A product of Cape Town's northern suburbs, he won his first PGA Tour title at the 2021 Barracuda Championship, finishing five points ahead of Andrew Putnam in the Modified Stableford format. Started competing at age 14 and played college golf at the University of Minnesota where he met his wife, Rose.

First win: Barracuda Championship (2021).
Biggest win: 5 strokes (2021 Barracuda Championship).

2 Garrick Higgo

The second of the South Africans on this list who is still a playing member of the Tour and the only left-hander. Has always been regarded as a Major-winner-in-waiting and had a rich amateur pedigree. Played collegiate golf at the University of Nevada before returning home to South Africa, turning professional in 2019. Has won on the DP World Tour, Sunshine Tour, HotelPlanner Tour and PGA Tour.

First win: Palmetto Championship (2021).
Biggest win: 1 stroke (2021 Palmetto Championship, 2025 Corales Puntacana Championship).

2 Tim Clark

They've been talking about The Players Championship being the unofficial 'fifth Major' for years and Clark won that event in 2010. He was dubbed 'The Umkomaaster' by his local Durban media and he left South Africa in 1996 to take up collegiate golf at North Carolina State. He enjoyed a 16-year PGA Tour career and achieved a world ranking of 14th in 2006, despite battling chronic elbow and back injuries. Calls Scottsdale his home, but a staunch Sharks rugby supporter, in which he is now also a shareholder investor.

First win: The Players Championship (2010).
Biggest win: 1 stroke (2010 The Players Championship, 2014 RBC Canadian Open).

2 Harold Henning

A rare winner of four national championships – in South Africa, Switzerland, Italy and Germany. In 1966, he won the Texas Open. However, he was not a PGA Tour member yet and was expected to earn membership at the 1966 PGA Tour Q-School. However, shortly before the tournament, the PGA Tour gave him an exemption from the event In 1970. He won the Tallahassee Open Invitational before he retired in 1972.

First win: Texas Open Invitational (1966).
Biggest win: 3 strokes (1966 Texas Open Invitational).

06/01/2026 12:51:53