A piece of brilliance under pressure saw the 24-year-old edging out the defending champion Shaun Norris with an eagle in a dramatic playoff.

The victory capped a compelling final day on the East Course, where Norris had earlier set the benchmark with a superb closing round of 62 to reach 16-under-par. Schaper, undeterred, methodically reeled him in with a polished 67, highlighted by three birdies in his final five holes, including a deft chip-in at the 16th, to force a sudden-death playoff.

Returning to the par-five 18th, the contest swung decisively. Schaper drove into the right fairway bunker, while Norris found the centre of the fairway and attacked the green with his second shot. Faced with a daunting lie and little margin for error, Schaper executed an outstanding rescue shot that carried cleanly onto the back of the green. He then holed the lengthy putt for eagle, a decisive blow that brought the championship to an emphatic conclusion.

Following his sensational win, the youngster said as player you question your ability to win right up until the very end.

“You always wonder, when you’re coming down the last in contention, whether it could finally be your week,” Schaper said.

Jayden Schaper's number shot on the playoff to setup the eagle for victory - Getty

“When that putt went in, it was an overwhelming sense that all the hard work over the years had been worth it. To know I had finally managed to get it done was incredibly special.”

The triumph represents a significant milestone in Schaper’s career and comes just a week after his runner-up finish at the Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club at Sun City. It also carried a strong sense of closure. In 2020, Schaper narrowly missed out on victory in this event at Leopard Creek, finishing second to Christiaan Bezuidenhout in a result that proved a formative experience early in his professional journey.

THAT IS RIDICULOUS! ??

Jayden Schaper produces one of the shots of the week in the play-off and Shaun Norris appreciates it. #DunhillChamps pic.twitter.com/8UAsKxaZxm

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 14, 2025

On Sunday, however, there was little sign of a player burdened by past disappointments. Schaper displayed maturity beyond his years throughout the closing stretch and in the playoff, matching Norris shot for shot before delivering the defining moment. The quality of his bunker shot on the 18th was such that it drew applause from spectators positioned across the fairway.

“I saw the lie in the bunker and didn’t even think about the yardage,” Schaper explained.

“I just trusted the feeling. I looked at my caddie, Keagan, and he knew exactly what I was thinking. That shot is the highlight of my career so far.”

CLUTCH ??

Jayden Schaper wins the Alfred Dunhill Championship thanks to THIS eagle putt in the play-off ??#DunhillChamps pic.twitter.com/iKXMCvqApI

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 14, 2025

Schaper also paid tribute to the testing conditions that characterised the week, with cold and rain placing an additional premium on patience and execution.

“It was a tough week weather-wise, but to start the new season like this is something I couldn’t have hoped for,” he said.

Among those watching from outside the ropes was his father, Ryan, who spoke of a journey that began long before Schaper’s professional breakthrough.

Shaun Norris  - Sunshine Tour

“This dream started as soon as Jayden could walk,” he said. 

“Our family has supported him throughout his career and trusted that his moment would come. To see it happen here is incredibly rewarding.”

Spain’s Eugenio Chacarra finished in third place on 15-under-par after a final-round 70, while Schaper’s victory marked a breakthrough that firmly establishes him as a rising force on the DP World Tour.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport