Luke Brown leads rain delayed Joburg Open ... Live scoreboard

  DP World Tour : Joburg Open Tee Times Leaderboard

Play was suspended at 9.15am local time due to thunder and lightning and resumed at 11.15am.

The clubhouse leader on the Houghton GC is the Dane Jacob Skov Olesen -5 65

Click on my links above for new tee times and leaderboard.

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Luke Brown belied his inexperience on the DP World Tour to earn a one-shot lead following a weather-affected first day of the 2026 Joburg Open.

The 27-year-old is making only his 16th start at this level and currently sits in 19th place on the Sunshine Tour as he carded seven birdies through 12 holes to climb to the top of the leaderboard at Houghton Golf Course.

Brown missed the cut at last week's Investec South African Open Championship, but he had recorded four successive top-ten finishes prior to the Stellenbosch event, including third at the Jonsson Workwear Durban Open in February.

He heads the field by one at -7, but Brown could play up to 24 holes on Friday, which has a bleak forecast, following a weather delay of an hour and 45 minutes due to thunder and lightning in the area during the first round.

He was only two off the pace set by fellow South African Jayden Schaper, Englishman Nathan Kimsey and Austria's Maximilian Steinlechner at six under, but a hat-trick of birdies from the first saw him Brown nudge ahead before play was suspended at 6.17pm local time due to darkness.

Brown got off to a fast start with an opening birdie at the tenth and he continue his charge with further gains at the 12th, 15th and 17th to reach the turn in -31. 

He was only two off the pace set by fellow South African Jayden Schaper, Englishman Nathan Kimsey and Austria's Maximilian Steinlechner at - but a hat-trick of birdies from the first saw him nudge ahead before play was suspended at 6.17pm local time due to darkness.

Steinlechner rolled in a birdie at the last, his seventh of the day to go with a bogey, to reach -----6 under, while Spaniard Angel Ayora signed for an eagle and four birdies to get to that mark through 15 holes and is one of 54 players yet to finish their first rounds.

Denmark's Jacob Skov Olesen recorded his lowest first round of the season in his 65 to -6 to sit alongside home hopeful Wilco Nienaber, Dutchman Darius van Driel and Sweden's Hugo Townsend at five under. Dan Bradbury and Kieran Vincent are also at that mark with four and eight holes to play of their opening rounds respectively

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus edit

 

Bryan Angus

Captain Luke Donald returns for 2027 Ryder Cup

 Luke Donald has been named as the European Captain for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in Limerick, Ireland.

The biennial contest will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year and Donald will have the chance to mark the occasion with his own piece of history as he attempts to become the first Captain to lead a Ryder Cup team to three consecutive victories.

The 48 year old Englishman previously captained Team Europe to a 16½ - 11½ victory against the United States at Marco Simone, Rome in 2023, and a 15-13 win at Bethpage, New York last September.

Donald said: “The last two Ryder Cups have meant a lot to me and my family. I didn’t imagine this third time would come. Celebrating on that Sunday night in New York after a pressure packed week in a tough environment, I thought maybe my job was done. But maybe there is a little more story to tell.

“This Ryder Cup Captaincy journey has given me so much focus, so much purpose and it is something I don’t take for granted. It’s a real privilege and I am certainly looking forward to another home Ryder Cup.

“History is obviously important to me. As a team, as Ryder Cup Europe, we all play for history. We talk about it a lot, about the guys who paved the way for us and the responsibility we have to inspire next generations. But I don’t think I have ever thought about history through a personal lens. I just try to enjoy the journey and the day-to-day work to create an environment that gives the players the opportunity for success. That is what I focus on.”

Donald was a player in the 2006 Ryder Cup in Ireland, so he knows exactly what to expect from the atmosphere when the Ryder Cup returns to the country from September 13-19, 2027.

“The Irish golf fans are some of the best in the world. They are so passionate about the game, so hospitable and so down to earth. They will bring such a great energy to the Ryder Cup. I am sure they will get behind our players and cheers us on. That’s what you want from a crowd – to pick you up in those low moments and keep you going when things are going well.

“That will be a big factor. It’s obviously one of the advantages of playing at home and there is no better place to do it than in Ireland.

“Adare Manor is such a special place, such a beautiful place. JP McManus and his team have done an amazing job creating a world class venue and hotel. Hosting a Ryder Cup will be very special to them and they are going to make sure it is going to be one of the greatest Ryder Cups in the history of our beautiful trophy.

Guy Kinnings, Chief Executive of the European Tour Group, said: “Luke was an outstanding Captain in Rome and New York, leading the team to victory both times, and it is fantastic he is coming back to do it a third time.

“Those victories were remarkable, but almost even more impressive was how he led the team and how he conducted himself. He has faced a lot of challenges as Captain throughout his two terms, and he has handled all of them with his usual calm, poise and authority and above all with respect.

“He is meticulous in everything he does when it comes to planning and preparation, but Luke would be the first to acknowledge that as good as job as he has done, this is a new challenge for him and the team. He will be as motivated and as committed as ever to help them achieve more success.”

He becomes just the fourth person to captain Europe in three or more consecutive Ryder Cups, after Dai Rees (1955, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1967), Tony Jacklin (1983, 1985, 1987, 1989) and Bernard Gallacher (1991, 1993, 1995).

As a player, Donald represented Europe four times in the Ryder Cup, being part of a winning team on all four occasions, contributing 10½ points from his 15 matches. After making his debut at Oakland Hills in 2004, his first home Ryder Cup came in Ireland two years later when won three points from his three matches as part of Ian Woosnam’s victorious team at The K Club in 2006.

Donald also featured in the European victories at The Celtic Manor Resort in 2010 and Medinah Country Club in 2012, then served as a Vice Captain in 2018, under Thomas Bjørn, and Pádraig Harrington in 2021.

Outside of the team arena, he spent 56 weeks as World Number One and in 2011 he became the first player in history to top the money lists on the DP World Tour and the PGA TOUR in the same year.

edit>>>My only question was did Luke want to do it again, and after some time away, on holiday, and with the assurance and prompting from all the players and family the answer became clear. The core of the team will remain intact, Rory, Tommy, Rosey, Hatton, MacIntyre, Lowry, Fitzpatrick, and the young guns like Aberg, Hojgaard, Hovland and Bob MacIntyre have passed the test of fire at Bethpage.

Jon Rahm is at odds with the DP World Tour right now over how many events he has to play, he wants 4 they say 6, however I'm sure that will be cleared up especially if his place in the team was to become an issue.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Five Canadians in Puerto Rico Open.. TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour: Puerto Rico Open Tee Times

While the big boys are at the AP Invitational this week the rank and file are playing an alternative event,, the Puerto Rico Open.

There are five Canadians in the field.

5.56am  1st  Adam Svensson, Nick Hardy, Dylan Wu

5.56am 10th  Ben Silverman, Ben Martin, William McGirt

6.07am 10th  Adam Hadwin, David Lipsky, Carson Young

7.02am 10th  AJ Ewart, Davis Chatfield, Blades Brown

11.15am 1oth  Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Kensei Hirata, Yanhan Zhou

Svensson, Silverman and Hadwin are all on the Korn Ferry Tour this year, but still get a chance on the PGA Tour for some events like this, and also on sponsors invitations.

Bryan Angus

Three Canadians at Arnold Palmer Invitational : TEE TIMES

 PGA Tour : Arnold Palmer Invitational Tee Times

It's a big fortnight on the PGA Tour.

This week a limited field signature event on Arnie's Bay Hill course considered one of the circuits sternest test, 6 pairings, 72 of the world's top players for $20,000,000.

Next week is the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass not a signature event, but worth even more at $25,000,000.

Rory is back in action along with his close friend Shane Lowry, hopefully recovered from blowing his lead at PGA National last week. Scott Scheffler also returns.

Canadians

9.05 1st   Corey Conners, Harry Hall

11.35 1st  Taylor Pendrith, Denny McCarthy

12.25 1st  Nick Taylor, JJ Spaun

Bryan Angus

Joburg Open...TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : Joburg Open Tee Times

The full field has moved north to Johannesburg and the Houghton GC for this last stop in South Africa, 52 groups with 156 players, and a very strong Springbok presence.

There is rain in the forecast for Friday, the wind all week around 14kph NW, temperatures low 20+*c.

With two wins and a runner-up in four starts Patrick Reed continues his DP World Tour career, paired with Jayden Schaper who won back to back events before Christmas and Casey Jarvis who won the last two tournaments will try for the rare threepeat.

The tour is off next week before beginning the Asian swing with two events in China, also India, and Turkey with a break mixed in for the Masters.

Bryan Angus

DP World Tour in Joburg this week...

 The International Swing draws to a close this week in South Africa at the Joburg Open Entry List

Jarvis chasing history

In the history of the DP World Tour, only two players have won three consecutive events: Sir Nick Faldo and Seve Ballesteros. Should Casey Jarvis win at Houghton, he will join that illustrious company in the DP World Tour history books. After claiming a maiden win at the Magical Kenya Open presented by absa, he followed it up with a glorious homecoming at the Investec South African Open Championship last week and he is now going for the hat-trick, a feat countryman Jayden Schaper had a tilt at earlier in the season after his wins in Johannesburg and Mauritius.

Hill defends

Calum Hill won his second DP World Tour title at this event 12 months ago and he returns to Houghton Golf Club aiming to become the third multiple winner alongside two-time South African champions Richard Sterne and Charl Schwartzel. Hill shot an eight-under-par 62 in the final round last year to come from eight shots back and play his way into a play-off with home heroes Shaun Norris and Jacques Kruyswijk. 

After all three players recorded par on the first play-off hole, a par proved good enough for the Scotsman after Norris found the water with his approach and Kruyswijk missed his five-foot putt. Victory followed on from Hill’s DP World Tour breakthrough at the Cazoo Classic in August 2021. "It's awesome. A little bit surprised there, I thought we were having to go again (to another play-off hole),” he said. "It was a fantastic day, and this is the cherry on top.”

Inside the field

Race to Dubai Rankings leader Patrick Reed is one of three of this season’s winners on the 2026 Race to Dubai teeing it up in Johannesburg alongside South African pair Jarvis and Jayden Schaper. 

Andy Sullivan has enjoyed an excellent start to the season, and the Englishman is joined by fellow former champions Sterne, Hill, Lawrence, George Coetzee, Haydn Porteous, Darren Fichardt, Shubhankar Sharma and Dan Bradbury. 

Spain’s rising star Angel Ayora has played every event since making his season debut at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player and it would be no surprise if he became the latest first-time DP World Tour winner. 

Martin Couvra is no stranger to winning on South African soil having won the country’s three major amateur titles and last season’s rookie of the year will be one to watch. South African trio MJ Viljoen, MJ Daffue and Oliver Bekker, who have all won on home soil during the HotelPlanner Tour’s season-opening events in South Africa, are also in action.

Looking back

Co-sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour, the Joburg Open is celebrating its 18th edition this week. Founded in 2007, it was previously held at Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club from 2007 to 2017, while Randpark Golf Club hosted in 2017, 2020 and 2021, the latter when Thriston Lawrence became the first winner of the DP World Tour era in the 2022 season.

 Steeped in tradition, Houghton – a host venue to 12 previous DP World Tour-sanctioned events – is staging for a fourth season in a row.

Swing finale offers route to Scottish Open

For the second consecutive year, the tournament is the seventh and final event of the International Swing. On the back of last week’s Investec South African Open Championship at Stellenbosch Golf Club, it brings a double header in the Rainbow nation to a close. 

Patrick Reed was confirmed as the Swing winner following the Magical Kenya Open presented by absa earlier this month but there is still plenty to play for this week. 

Through the Swing, the highest-ranked player not already exempt when the entry list is announced for the Genesis Scottish Open in late June will earn a place at the second Rolex series event of the year and with many players towards the top of the Swing standings already guaranteed a place at The Renaissance Club, that is wide open. As things stand, Hennie du Plessis is in line to lay claim to that reward.

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Late Lowry collapse gifts Echavarria Cognizant Classic...Final results

     PGA Tour: Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches... Leaderboard Results

" Geez this one is going to be hard to take I beat myself today, I had the tournament in my hands and I threw it away"

Shane Lowry of Ireland looks on from the 18th green during the final round of the Cognizant Classic. Photograph: Raj Mehta/Getty

That sums Sunday for Shane Lowry on PGA National, 3 shots clear of the field, until a wide right 3 iron into the water at 16 resulting in a double bogey, followed by another double on 17 gifted the trophy to a delighted Nico Echavarria who to his credit had played well all weekend (63 72 66 66 -17) worth $1,728,000.

Playing on his home course the affable big Irishman has now had 4 top 5's here in the last 5 years. (T2  70 67 63 69 -15)

If I were his coach I would remind him that his fellow club member Jack Nicklaus finished 2nd 58 times in his career

" I have a tee time at Bay Hill net Thursday, so I have no choice but to move on "

Canadians

AJ Ewart  T13  71 64 68 72 -9

Sudarshan Yellamaraju T17 68 72 68 68 -8

Mac Hughes T23  75 65 69 68 -7

Ben Silverman T40  73 67 69 71 -4

This week another $20,000,000 limited field signature event Arnold Palmer Invitational while the rank and file have an alternative event in Puerto Rico.

Bryan Angus