Jaden Schaper, like his great countryman Gary Player, is a fairly small man but with a massive dose of big match temperament for golf.
And he came of age in sensational fashion at Royal Johannesburg Sunday by making an unlikely eagle three at the East Course’s par-5 18th to beat fellow South African Shaun Norris at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
Earlier the two players had tied on 16-under-par 198 for the 54 holes of regulation in this DP World Tour event reduced to 54 holes because of rain and a waterlogged course over the four days of play.
The eagle that clinched victory was the result of a shot for the ages, as Schaper drove into a fairway bunker. He was 238 metres from the heart of the green but clipped the sand perfectly to hit a magnificent approach which finished just over the putting surface. From three he rolled in the tricky downhill 15-footer he faced to secure the title.
It is 24-year-old Schaper’s first win as a professional, although he has often come close to getting over the line. “All the years of hard work have finally paid off. Thanks to the support I’ve had from family and friends, my support team and my caddie Keagen Snalam. My mom and dad - Ryan and Yolande - watched me win today and they've played such a massive role in helping me get to this point in my career."
Ebotse’s Schaper closed with a 67 which was three under and not five under as the par-5 sixth hole was turned into a par-3 on Sunday for the final round because the course was so wet. Norris, the defending champion from Silver Lakes, charged home with a magnificent 62 which included five back nine birdies. The popular 43-year-old powerhouse has been a multiple winner all over the world and after his birdie in the play-off hole that was eclipsed by Schaper's eagle, he smiled broadly and warmly congratulated the younger man.
Schaper birdied three of the last five holes, highlighted with a chip-in for a two - he has a magnificent touch around the greens - at the par-3 16th. He now leads the 2026 Race to Dubai following his joint second place in last week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge at Sun City
Royal Johannesburg’s East Course is one of the longest layouts in South Africa, measuring 7001m (7656 yards) off the championship tees. But the soaking rain over the past week softened the course, and a soft course makes for low scoring as the players can attack the pins, confident that their approach shots will check quickly.
So it’s target golf, easier golf. A bit like throwing darts. And a look at the stats for the two men in the play-off confirms this. Norris had no less than 17 birdies over the course of the 54 holes, with one eagle and three bogeys; Schafer rolled in 19 birdies, and had one eagle and five dropped shots. It was a birdie-fest of note.
Joint first round leader Eugenio Chacarra of Spain was third on 199 after a 70, with South African trio Louis Oosthuizen, Christiaan Burke and Oliver Bekker next best on 13-under.