It will be the first event on the LIV Golf calendar since the historic LIV Golf South Africa tournament in Johannesburg in March - a showcase that lifted the tour to another level and left a lasting impression on local as well as international players and fans.

While Charl Schwartzel was battling it out at The Masters at Augusta last week, his Southern Guards teammates Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace and Dean Burmester were enjoying a well-deserved break.

Dean Burmester and Branden Grace are the leading South Africans in the individual competition. Photo: Pedro Salado/LIV Golf

That breather came at the right time. The team pushed hard on home soil at Steyn City, eventually finishing runners-up to Crushers GC in a dramatic final-day showdown. While they just missed out on the win, the result injected plenty of belief into the camp.

Now, with renewed energy, they head into this week’s challenge at Club de Golf Chapultepec aiming to turn promise into silverware. Currently sitting sixth in the team standings, the Southern Guards have their sights firmly set on breaking into the top three as the season unfolds.

Team captain Oosthuizen said the recent break struck the perfect balance between rest and staying sharp.

“Yeah, the time off was really good. I spent a week on the farm down in Gouritz and even took a few of my American mates along to show them around. It was just a lekker chance to switch off and enjoy being home,” said Oosthuizen.

“After that, I had two weeks back in Florida. I stayed quite busy with farm stuff, but I did get a bit of golf in as well. Overall, I’m feeling fresh and ready to go again.

“That first week back home was quite hectic. Everyone was excited about what we achieved. You’d be at a braai, SuperSport’s on, and suddenly all the highlights are playing again - it was pretty cool to relive those moments, even if we wanted a different result.”

Louis Oosthuizen during his practice round at Club de Golf Chapultepec. Photo: Pedro Salado/LIV Golf

The former Open champion added that the team takes plenty of pride from their performance in Johannesburg.

“I think, all things considered, we can be very proud of what we achieved. It wasn’t perfect, but there’s definitely a lot to build on.”

Looking ahead to Mexico City, Oosthuizen admitted the unique conditions - especially the altitude - will play a massive role, and the course with which he has a love-hate relationship.

Former Masters champion Charl Schwartzel was in action at Augusta last week. Photo: LIV Golf

“It’s like Johannesburg on steroids here - we’re at about 7,500 feet compared to Joburg’s roughly 5,700. The big hitters are going to send it even further. I’m just happy I’ll be knocking it over 300 metres this week.

“I’ve got a bit of a love-hate relationship with this course. I can play really well one round and then struggle the next. Distance control is crucial, and you’ve got to get the ball up in the air to make the most of the altitude.

“I’ve played it many times, so I know what to expect. The greens can be tricky, but at the end of the day, it’s a course where everyone knows what needs to be done.”

Bloemfontein-bred Dean Burmester at LIV Golf South Africa. Photo: LIV Golf

Despite the narrow defeat in South Africa, the mood in the camp remains upbeat and ambitious.

“That second-place finish gave us a big boost. We’ve been close a few times this season, and although we got beaten at the end by the Crushers in SA, the confidence is there. We’re aiming to get a win and push for a top-three finish to give ourselves a shot at the title.”

Grace and Burmester head into the week as the leading South Africans in the individual competition standings, placed 10th and 11th respectively.

The first round at Club de Golf Chapultepec tees off on Thursday at 21:15 (SA time).

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek   cvdw