Dylan Naidoo won the weather-affected 2025 South African Open Championship in a playoff against Laurie Canter after the final round of the DP World Tour event was cancelled due to a flooded Durban Country Club.
However, more heavy rain arrived on Saturday night and into Sunday morning, with the course quickly become oversaturated and therefore largely unplayable. Only Chris Paisley, playing on his own, was able to complete his round at the very start of Sunday.
Tournament organizers decided that with no chance of a Monday restart, the championship would be shortened to 54 holes and the two holes that could be saved - the first and 18th - would act as the stage for a two-man playoff between 14-under leaders, Canter and Naidoo.
The home favorite needed just one hole to get the job done and earn a first DP World Tour title, with the highlight being a sublime chip to around four feet which Naidoo confidently knocked in. Also, by winning, Naidoo became the seventh South African in a row to claim their own national open championship.
Meanwhile, Canter - who won February's Bahrain Championship - had to settle for a runner-up finish after his own wedge shot left him too much to do.
Speaking immediately after his third professional victory, Naidoo said: "I really don't know what to say. After a lot of really difficult times, a lot of times where I thought I'd do this earlier in my career...
"This is a special moment for me, it's a special moment for everybody here in Durban - it's overwhelming.
"I said yesterday it felt like I was Tiger Woods (due to the bumper crowds following him). There were so many people. All the energy that I had, I can't thank everyone enough for coming out yesterday and today. I'm speechless."
Champion Naidoo's day had already begun in a positive fashion as a result of the final-round cancellation, with three places at The Open Championship in Northern Ireland later this year on offer as part of the Open Qualifying Series.
Naidoo's high position on the leaderboard gave him one, while England's Marco Penge - who finished second after 54 holes - and South Africa's Darren Fichardt gratefully claimed the other two. Canter had already secured an Open spot.
Updates From...
PLAYOFF TO BEGIN SHORTLY
The 18th hole was all but under water earlier on Sunday
PLAYOFF HOLE
NECK AND NECK OFF THE TEE
Both players drive it just short of the green on the first playoff hole 🚀#InvestecSAOpen pic.twitter.com/70kzvKAwgZMarch 2, 2025
CHRISTIAAN MAAS WINS FREDDIE TAIT CUP
NAIDOO PILES PRESSURE ON
ADVANTAGE NAIDOO
CANTER MISSES
NAIDOO WINS
Listen to those roars! 🔊The moment Dylan Naidoo won his national open 🙌#InvestecSAOpen pic.twitter.com/mEbi6eWsZxMarch 2, 2025
HEAR FROM THE CHAMPION
"After a lot of really difficult times. A lot of times I'd do this earleir in my career. I don't know what to say." You did it Dylan, you're a Tour winner 💪#InvestecSAOpen pic.twitter.com/XKFWkaHAIXMarch 2, 2025
What a lovely and humble man, Dylan Naidoo seems. The 2025 South African Open Championship victor was understandably delighted when speaking immediately after the winning moment, claiming he didn't know what to say at first.
He quickly found some words, though. Naidoo said: "After a lot of really difficult times, a lot of times where I thought I'd do this earlier in my career... wow, I don't know what to say. This is a special moment for me. It's a special moment for everybody here in Durban. It's overwhelming."
SOUTH AFRICANS CONTINUE DOMINATION
For the seventh year in a row, a South African wins the Investec South African Open Championship 🏆2025: 🇿🇦 Dylan Naidoo 2023: 🇿🇦 Dean Burmester2022: 🇿🇦 Thriston Lawrence2021: 🇿🇦 Daniel van Tonder2020: 🇿🇦 Christiaan Bezuidenhout2020: 🇿🇦 Branden Grace2018: 🇿🇦 Louis… pic.twitter.com/ZWOp6jDk0fMarch 2, 2025