Marcus Sandile Taylor makes his DP World Tour debut this week as he looks to make the most of an incredible opportunity at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.
The Sunshine Tour rookie was not exempt into this week's field in his home town of Johannesburg but came through pre-qualifying at Benoni Country Club to give himself a chance at Royal Johannesburg.
Taylor and his twin brother Miles were first introduced to golf through their father's friendship with a nephew of South African great Gary Player.
Both siblings played collegiate golf at Florida A&M and while Covid-19 disrupted their progress, they helped the Rattlers win the HBCU National Championship in May last year.
Marcus saw the start of his time in the paid ranks disrupted by knee surgery but secured his first Sunshine Tour top ten in August and is delighted to have a chance to shine on the DP World Tour stage.
"I got in yesterday via the pre-qualifier at Benoni Country Club and i'm grateful to be here," he said.
"Making my DP World Tour debut, I had it as a goal at the beginning of the year to play in the Dunhill and Mauritius which I'm playing next week.
"First event on the DP World Tour among these guys you watch on TV so if I can come out here and play my game, make the cut and somewhat compete I'll be more than happy with mself.
"We'll just take it as it comes."
He added: "I got into golf quite a while ago with my twin brother. My dad was friends with Gary Player's nephew, they used to have a driving range just down the road from our house. Pops used to to go out there for a drink with them and throw me and my brother in the back and we fell in love with the game ever since.
Marcus Taylor, who rips his driver at 190+mph, is set to make his DP World Tour debut this week having qualified on Wednesday through the pre-qualifer at Benoni Country Club 🇿🇦#DunhillChamps pic.twitter.com/fxA9ZZOWTw
— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 10, 2025
"I was at Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, I had an unreal experience there. The coach there Mike Rice was an unreal coach, he recruited both me and my brother.
"Unfortunately Covid was a thing for all, I missed my first year and then was out for about a year and a half, I missed two years.
"I played my last year and a half in college which was unreal, I got two wins there and we won the HBCU national championship."
Taylor's mighty six foot four frame gives him prodigious distance - reaching 191mph ball speed on the range - and he believes that controlled power will be to his advantage this week.
"Probably my main strength is off the tee," he said. "I kind of get the ball out there quite a bit. I hit the ball long and straight off the tee which is nice."
