The International Swing reaches a climax this week on the DP World Tour as Glendower Golf Club plays host to the Jonsson Workwear Open. Here are your five things to know.
Bachem defends
Nick Bachem claimed his maiden DP World Tour title at the Jonsson Workwear Open last year, producing a final round of 64 at The Club at Steyn City to win by four shots in his rookie season.
In doing so, the 2022 Qualifying School graduate became the fastest German winner in Tour history – beating Yannik Paul by 14 events.
Despite two further top-ten finishes in the Czech Republic and Ireland later in the season, he missed out on qualifying for the lucrative DP World Tour Championship.
After an indifferent start to the 2024 Race to Dubai, in which he registered one top 20 in his first eight starts, the 24-year-old is perhaps rediscovering some form after finishing in a tie for fourth at last week’s SDC Championship.
The 24-year-old has already spoken about tempering expectations but should certainly take confidence into his first DP World Tour title defence, albeit it is taking place at a new venue.
Glendower poised for event’s third edition
The Jonsson Workwear Open is this week returning for its third consecutive year, with Glendower Golf Club acting as its third host venue.
The inaugural event – co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour and European Challenge Tour – was won by home hope J.C. Ritchie at Durban Country Club in 2022.
And as mentioned earlier, in its first edition as part of both the DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour schedules, it was Bachem who claimed victory 12 months ago in Johannesburg.
Glendower holds an illustrious place in South African golf, with the championship layout having hosted its national open on several occasions.
The parkland course has also provided the backdrop to some of South Africa’s flagship amateur championships.
International Swings draws to a conclusion
After seven events spanning two continents, the International Swing ends this week with its eighth and final leg in South Africa.
So far, since its start in January, the swing has celebrated seven different winners, with Rory McIlroy – winner of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the Rolex Series – leading both its rankings and that of the season-long Race to Dubai.
While four-time Major champion McIlroy is set to be crowned International Swing Champion, while also earning $200,000 from an overall $1million Bonus Pool and qualifying for each of the ‘Back 9’ events later in the season, there is still plenty at stake for those in action this week.
Thanks to the implementation of a host of new enhancements on the DP World Tour this season, the leading member (not otherwise exempt) from the International Swing, will qualify for the Genesis Scottish Open.
Currently occupying that spot is South Africa’s Zander Lombard, who last week missed only his first cut since the D+D Real Czech Masters last summer.
The International Swing Rankings
| Player | Total |
|---|---|
| Rory McIlroy | 1096.00 |
| Rikuya Hoshino | 630.20 |
| Thorbjørn Olesen | 628.75 |
| Adrian Meronk | 615.00 |
| Tommy Fleetwood | 578.50 |
| Rikuya Hoshino | 576.30 |
| Dylan Frittelli | 545.55 |
| Darius van Driel | 525.80 |
| Zander Lombard | 509.12 |
| Jordan Gumberg | 500.00 |
Inside the field
The last four winners on the DP World Tour are all teeing it up this week in Edenvale, Guateng.
Dylan Frittelli, Rikuya Hoshino, Darius van Driel and Jordan Gumberg, the latter of whom won in a play-off last week at St. Francis Links, are all in the top 10 on the International Swing standings.
There a host of home favourites in action, including DP World Tour winners Thriston Lawrence, Ockie Strydom and Darren Fichardt, while rising stars Casey Jarvis and Jayden Schaper are talents to watch out for along with last week’s runner-up Robin Williams.
Scotland’s Connor Syme will be looking to continue his excellent form which has seen him record back-to-back top 10s as he seeks an elusive DP World Tour title, while Andy Sullivan and Brandon Stone are both former winners on the DP World Tour at this week's host venue.
There are also a raft of Challenge Tour graduates in action, including the in-form Ugo Coussaud and Jesper Svensson.
Can trend of first-time winners continue?
After the 2022-2023 season on the DP World Tour saw 18 first-time champions emerge four continents, we have already seen four so far on the 2024 Race to Dubai schedule.
In fact, there have been three in as many events over recent weeks and they are all of different nationality, highlighting the global nature of the tour.
With last year's Jonsson Workwear Open resulting in a player entering the winner's circle for the first time, could history repeat itself again this week?
