Five things to know: 2024 Alfred Dunhill Championship

The DP World Tour is back at Leopard Creek in South Africa for the Alfred Dunhill Championship. Here are your five things to know.

Strydom defends

Ockie Strydom claimed a career-changing maiden DP World Tour title on home soil in last season's Alfred Dunhill Championship, producing a back-nine birdie blitz to win the Alfred Dunhill Championship by two shots. The 37-year-old entered the final round in Malelane alongside overnight co-leader Scott Jamieson but, after a double bogey at the ninth saw him drop back into a share of the lead, he found his best form on the back nine, birdieing the tenth, 11th, 13th and 14th. That opened up a three-shot lead and he never looked back, signing for a 69 to finish at 18 under par.

It kick-started an impressive couple of months in his season, with Strydom following up his victory in South Africa with his second title just two months later at the Singapore Open. Before that, Strydom had 19 runner-up finishes in his career and one victory on the Sunshine Tour. He became the second South African winner on the DP World Tour last season, following on from Thriston Lawrence at the Investec South African Open, while he is also the eighth home winner of the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

The second half of his season saw him struggle, but after making the cut at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, Strydom makes his first start of the 2024 season this week hoping to regain some form.

An impressive list of champions

Held since 1995 and in its current guise as the Alfred Dunhill Championship since 2000, the event boasts an impressive list of champions.

There are few bigger names in South African golf than Ernie Els, who won this title the first time it was staged at Leopard Creek 18 years ago, and again in both 1999 and 2006.

A few years after the inaugural event, Anthony Wall became the first winner of the event with its current title in 2000, with Adam Scott triumphing the following year - 12 years before he would go on to the win the Masters Tournament, and Justin Rose in 2002.

In more recent years, it has become a place for South African champions to flourish, including defending champion Strydom.

South African players try to make it three home wins in three events

Seven of the last eight winners of this particular championship have hailed from South Africa, including defending champion Strydom and fellow winners Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Brandon Stone, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace.

It makes for good reading for the players from South Africa, who will all be trying to play their part in making it a clean sweep of home winners in the Opening Swing on the DP World Tour. The final of three consecutive events in South Africa, the Alfred Dunhill Championship follows Dean Burmester's back-to-back victories at the Joburg Open and Investec South African Open Championship.

Two players to watch are Jayden Schaper and Thriston Lawrence, who both come into this week with two consecutive top tens.

Last time out, course records were set

Scott Jamieson set the tone at Leopard Creek with a second round blemish-free nine-under-par 63 during last year's championship. Afternoon starter Jamieson produced two impressive birdie bursts during the second round at Leopard Creek Country Club, reeling off four straight gains on the front side before making a hat-trick on the back nine.

Jamieson said: "It's a special place to hold a course record. Going bogey-free is always a nice feeling. I holed some crucial par putts at times, which helped to keep the momentum on my side. The putter got hot for a couple of stretches on the front nine and on the back nine.

"It was a great day. I always love playing golf here. It's my favourite week of the year."

While the Scot ended his week tied 11th, eventual champion Ockie Strydom carded a 63 of his own a day after Jamieson to storm in contention, carding an eagle and eight other birdies in his first 15 holes before a late bogey prevented him from setting a new course record at Leopard Creek Country Club.

Strydom had begun the day seven shots off the lead but soon set about closing the gap, firing a stunning eagle at the second before making a hat-trick of birdies at the fourth, fifth and sixth. Further gains followed at the ninth and 11th before he rolled in from around 25 feet for another on the 13th to start another hat-trick of birdies. From there he was unable to save par at the short 16th, and had to settle for pars at the 17th and 18th to head into the final round on 15 under.

Take a walk on the wild side

The rich history of this event is not the only thing that draws a stellar field and big crowds, there is also the fantastic Kruger National Park. One of South Africa's biggest game reserves, the Kruger is home to the big five - lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalo - and many of the field will be venturing out before and after their rounds to possibly get a glimpse of some of nature's giants. And some of the animals that have wings or can swim often come and see the field, too.