The Debrief: Fortinet Australian PGA Championship and Joburg Open

What you need to know from the double-header of season-opening events in South Africa and Australia.

A third DP World Tour title in front of home fans for Min Woo Lee

Min Woo Lee confidently claimed his third DP World Tour title and second on home soil with a three-stroke victory at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship.

The 25-year-old, who has been out in front since round two, held off an early charge from Rikuya Hoshino that had them tied after two holes but quickly found his stride, almost recording an ace at the fourth and chipping in for eagle at the ninth on his way to a three under 68 at Royal Queensland GC.

Standing up to the pressure of holding the overnight lead, Lee delighted the home crowds and was surrounded by friends and family as he tapped in for a final hole bogey to secure the Joe Kirkwood Cup and finish his week on 20 under par.

"Yeah, unbelievable," said Lee, who follows Nathan Holman (2016), Cam Smith (2018, 19 and 22) and Adam Scott (2019) as the fourth Australian winner of this event since it was first played on the DP World Tour’s Global Schedule in 2016.

"I've always thought I could win, but it took a while to get over the hump, but two wins in the last month or so. Yeah, I'm really proud of my team and myself and yeah, I made it interesting early on and through the middle, but ended up hanging on, so I'm really proud.

"I know Rikuya is a really good player and he kept knocking on the door, but it was the exactly same as my last win, just the playing point. I just kept coming, so I knew I just needed to keep playing well and do my thing and I did. Yeah, I'm really proud of the way I made some up and downs and some putts."

Home cooking and the party hole

The loudest place on the course all week was the par three 17th, dubbed the 'Party Hole', with golfers and caddies all providing plenty for the fans to cheer about.

From Min Woo Lee's thunderclap with a chef hat to a caddie race and a lot of great golf shots, it was definitely the place to be.

Hoshino's best DP World Tour finish

Rikuya Hoshino ended the day three shots behind the eventual winner, but he was sure to pile on the pressure early in the round before going on to record his highest ever finish on the DP World Tour.

The Japanese star, who has six wins on the Japan Tour, birdied his first two holes at Royal Queensland GC in response to an opening dropped shot from Lee that had them tied after the second hole.

He remained at the top briefly but from the fourth Lee pulled away to victory, while Hoshino parred his way in from the 12th to secure second place and his highest ever position on the DP World Tour,

Burmester wins in South Africa

Dean Burmester fired a brilliant bogey-free round of 64 to secure a three-shot victory on home soil at the Joburg Open.

The 34-year-old started the day three shots off top spot but took the lead on the fifth and never looked back, putting in a nerveless display to finish the week at 18 under.

The win for Burmester is his third on the DP World Tour and he was delighted to put on a "special" performance to overturn Thriston Lawrence's lead in front of the home fans.

"I actually can't describe what's really happened," he said.

"The fans are always fantastic at home in South Africa and I'm so happy to be home and playing at home and eating a bit of braai meat and having a good time. Thriston is an amazing competitor and he had a three-shot lead so I knew I had to do something special and fortunately I was able to do that."

From Q School to his best finish in two years

It's been some two weeks for Darren Fichardt!

The South African walked off the 18th green at DP World Tour Qualifying School thinking he'd missed out on regaining his Tour card by one shot, only to be informed by a fellow player he'd made it on the number.

Less than two weeks later, he recorded his best finish on the DP World Tour in over two years with a runner-up finish to Burmester in South Africa - highlighted by an hole out eagle two on the third during the final round.

Three earn Open spots

The Joburg Open was the first event in the Open Qualifying Series, which offers players opportunities around the world to qualify for golf’s oldest Major Championship.

Burmester claimed a three-shot victory after posting four rounds in the 60s at Houghton Golf Club, including a second-round 62, to win at 18 under, with fellow South African Fichardt his nearest challenger and defending Joburg Open champion Bradbury two shots further back.

"I love The Open Championship," said Burmester, who finished 11th in his only previous Open appearance in 2021. "The 150th Open at St Andrews that I played in was probably the greatest spectacle that I've ever witnessed. They put on one of the most special shows in golf.

"It means a lot," said Fichardt, who finished in second place.

"I've had six Opens already and it's going to be awesome. I haven't had a good track record in The Open so I want to rectify that, I want to have a good week and get that bad streak out of the way."

Englishman Bradbury ensured his place at Royal Troon with a final-round 64 to claim the third qualifying spot, a year on from sealing his Open debut with his victory in South Africa.

"If you can't win, this is the next best thing," he said. "It's a great bonus for the event and I'm really looking forward to it. Didn't do great last year so hopefully I can do better next time.

"The Open is the biggest event I've ever played and this one will be the biggest event again.

"It was a very special feeling playing it last year and I'm really, really looking forward to going again."