Dean Burmester will be on the tee early on Thursday morning during the opening round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek in Malelane.

The Bloemfonteiner is the man to beat this week as he targets a hat-trick of titles after winning the Joburg Open as well as the South African Open over the past two weeks.

Burmester said it’s always special to play at the iconic course on the banks of the Crocodile River next to the Kruger National Park.

“I’m very happy and blessed to be able to come to a place like this and enjoy it and do what I love,” said Burmester.

“The only way you’ll ever understand what Leopard Creek is, is by getting the opportunity to come here personally. We get to play golf on a perfectly manicured golf course and then every time I get to the 13th green here I almost always shed a tear,” he said of the iconic green that overlooks the Kruger National Park.

Burmester will start on the 10th hole along with another player who has also won the Joburg as well as South African Opens, in Thriston Lawrence. They will be joined by Guido Migliozzi of Italy.

The trio will get their first round underway at 6:40 on Thursday morning.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport