From the South African Open to The Open - a big 2026 awaits for rising amateur Jack Buchanan

From a debut at his national open to a Major Championship debut, Jack Buchanan has much to look forward to in 2026.

Through his victory at the Africa Amateur Championship earlier this month, the South African opened doors to new opportunities that many dream can only of.

It all starts this week at the Investec South African Open Championship, where Buchanan takes his place in a stellar international field at the co-sanctioned DP World Tour and Sunshine Tour event.

At 21, honing his craft playing college golf at the University of Southern California, he is breaking new ground on the professional stage in the infancy of his career.

While such a prospect might be daunting for most, Buchanan is grinning from ear to ear as he tries to take the surroundings in his stride.

“It's an unreal experience to be playing my first South African Open in kind of my hometown," he told the DP World Tour. "I'm from Cape Town, so this is only an hour away."

Buchanan was head and shoulders above the rest of the field at the Africa Amateur Championship, carding back-to-back rounds of 67 over the final two rounds at Royal Johannesburg to claim a dominant six-shot victory and the first elite amateur championship of his promising career.

In addition to a spot at his home open, Buchanan earned exemptions into "some pretty cool tournaments" - namely The 154th Open, The Amateur Championship, the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the Waterfall City Tournament of Champions powered by Attacq, the latter sanctioned by the Sunshine Tour.

"I played really well at Royal Johannesburg Country Club a couple of weeks ago," added Buchanan, who is grouped with Italy's Matteo Manassero - a former Amateur Championship winner - and Matthew Jordan, who too enjoyed a distinguished amateur career.

"I put four really good rounds together, so playing well and looking forward to the week this week."

In practice so far this week, Buchanan has played with countrymen Deon Germishuys - alongside whom he competed in junior golf - and experienced Sunshine Tour regular Neil Schietekat.

Tips of the trade are something that Buchanan is aware will serve him well on this elevated stage, but five-time South African Open champion Ernie Els is someone he is yet to reach out to.

"I know Ernie Els is playing, but I'm a bit too young to remember him, but I've definitely seen a lot of golf that he's played over the years," he said.

A sophomore at the University of Southern California, Buchanan is a member at the revered Riviera Country Club.

As places to practise go, they don't come much better - and while Stellenbosch will present a different challenge, he is feeling confident that his game can stand up to the test.

"We're in downtown Los Angeles, we've got some of the best weather in the world, so practising out there is really cool," he said.

"So to play PGA TOUR venues every week in Riviera, Los Angeles Country Club, courses like that really prepares you well when you come back to South Africa where the courses are slightly shorter.

"But this week we're in for a good test."

While this week is undoubtedly a step into unchartered territory, things will move up another level this summer when Buchanan plays at The 154th Open.

It's safe to say that anticipation is already building for that, especially considering that Royal Birkdale was where he first witnessed an Open Championship in person.

With the Amateur Championship set for Royal Liverpool and West Lancashire in June, Buchanan will soon come to know "England's Golf Coast" very well.

"Royal Birkdale was my first Open Championship as a spectator in 2017 and I'm playing the Amateur [Championship] just a couple of weeks before it at Royal Liverpool, which is not too far," he said.

"So, we're going to try and get on to Royal Birkdale at the same time. But extremely excited to be teeing it up in The 154th Open Championship.

"It's kind of always been the one that I've wanted to win with my dad being from England and spending time over there as a kid playing tournaments. So, really excited to tee it up for my first Major later on in the year."

Childhood dreams are fast becoming realised, with Buchanan one to watch over the coming months.