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The 2026 SA Open champion has had a breakthrough year from Sunshine Tour hopeful to Major contender. Here he sets the stage for his Nedbank Golf Challenge debut at Sun City

BY MICHAEL VLISMAS

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Casey Jarvis is well aware of how quickly life can change. One moment you're watching Tiger Woods's iconic chip-in on the 16th at Augusta National during The Masters. The next you're on that hole playing in The Masters yourself.


One day you're trying to make it on the Sunshine Tour. The next you're in the running for a PGA Tour card.


And one moment you're a kid taking photos with Rory McIlroy at the Nedbank Golf Challenge. Then later this year you're making your debut in 'Africa's Major' as one of world golf's brightest young stars who has taken the DP World Tour by storm, finished top 10 in your debut in The Open and flying your country's flag as one of its highest-ranked golfers in the world.

'I've gained a lot of confidence. I was clubhouse leader for a stage at The Open. Watching that Major your whole life and then being in the mix on the Sunday is truly something I've dreamt of'

'Life has changed pretty quick, but it's been a lot of fun,' says Jarvis. 'It's no secret that qualifying to play in the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player is a prime indication that you have entered a new phase in your career. When I found out I was going to be playing the Nedbank Golf Challenge, I got really excited.


'I went to watch the tournament when I was younger. I always loved watching the South Africans play there. Then one year I went to watch Rory McIlroy play and I remember getting a photo with him. It was proper cool. I've always wished I could play in it one day. This is Africa's Major. We've all watched it growing up and wanted to play in it. It definitely still carries that weight for us, and even more so with Justin Rose and Bryson DeChambeau coming this year,' Jarvis says as he looks forward to this iconic South African tournament at Sun City this December.


And the confidence he's gained from an incredible year of back-to-back wins on the DP World Tour, a debut in The Masters and then that tied sixth finish in The Open at Royal Birkdale is what he's determined to bring back to South Africa at the end of this year.


'I've gained a lot of confidence. I was clubhouse leader for a stage at The Open. Watching that Major your whole life and then being in the mix on the Sunday is truly something I've dreamt of. I've learnt a lot how to deal with that kind of pressure, and to manage my expectations. I've always wanted to do well in the Majors from the start and this year really taught me that patience is key in Majors. I think I started The Open and was plus four through the first six holes. It just taught me to be patient because you are always in the mix at a Major.

'Just a few putts here or a few shots there and you jump up the leaderboard a lot.'


'So when I come home to play the Nedbank Golf Challenge, I'm definitely looking to be in contention on the Sunday. It's an exciting position to be in. I definitely didn't think I'd be in this position a year ago when I was kind of fighting to keep my card every year. But to be in this position where I'm trying to get better and be at the next level is very exciting.'


Working hard and being in that constant pursuit for improvement has always been a priority for Jarvis throughout his career. Now, having been exposed to the smallest of margins that is professional golf at the very elite pinnacle of the game, he has an even keener laser focus about what he needs to do.


'I'm working on a few things. I definitely want to get a bit stronger physically and start hitting it a little further. I think that's important – just a bit of strength and conditioning. And the short game is such a big part of it all. I didn't always realise that when I first turned professional. I used to just focus a lot on ball striking, but the short game plays such a big role on Tour. It's so easy to throw away shots, so I've really been working hard on trying to get the short game better.'

THE TROPHY CABINET

Although he is making his debut in the Nedbank Golf Challenge, Jarvis is certainly no stranger to the iconic Gary Player Country Club. It's the major advantage any South African in this tournament always has – they've grown up playing this golf course, either in elite amateur tournaments or on the Sunshine Tour.


For Jarvis, that sense of how quickly things can change will be magnified at Sun City as he now returns to a golf course where he won the Freddie Tait Cup as the leading amateur when the 2021 South African Open was played there.


'I'm very comfortable on that golf course. I know the wind is pretty tricky to deal with there, but I know what to expect going there. I'm looking forward to seeing the changes. I've heard a lot of good things about them. I feel like the golf course was so good before and already one of the best in the country, but maybe with these changes it becomes the best course in the country. The first hole was always pretty straightforward compared to the rest of the course.


'With the new first hole it certainly seems like Mr Player wants to catch our attention right from the start, and I'm looking forward to it. I've always liked to try and take on that course.'


Soon he'll be walking to that first tee at Sun City with that familiar lope of his, equally determined to take on 'Africa's Major' as one of South Africa's bold new forces in the history of this tournament.

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