The debrief: ISPS HANDA Australian Open and Investec South African Open Championship

All you need to know from another double-header of events in Australia and South Africa on the DP World Tour’s Opening Swing.

Niemann wins play-off In Sydney

Joaquin Niemann made an eagle at the second extra hole of a sudden death play-off to win the ISPS HANDA Australian Open.

The Chilean, a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR, set the clubhouse target with a closing five-under-par 66 at The Australian Golf Club.

That score was later matched by Rikuya Hoshino - bidding to win his maiden DP World Tour title - as the 54-hole co-leader from Japan carded a one under 70 in Sydney.

Niemann missed a great chance to seal victory on the first play-off as his eagle putt from five feet slid past, moments after Hoshino made an impressive up and down from a greenside bunker.

Hoshino repeated the feat after going bunker to bunker with his second shot, but that was not enough as Niemann capitalised on another brilliant approach to hole from seven feet and become the first South American to claim the Stonehaven Cup.

“These last two playoff holes showed how I have been playing the last few weeks here in Australia," he said. "My putting hasn't been the best, but I've been working hard on it and it was nice to make that last putt.”

Hoshino impresses again to continue fine start to new season

Rikuya Hoshino recorded his second runner-up finish in as many weeks

While the result will not have been what Hoshino hoped for heading into the final round, the 27-year-old has earned a swathe of new fans with his play in Australia.

After finishing runner-up to Min Woo Lee in Brisbane last week, he mounted another title challenge in Australia’s national open to showcase his game.

A six-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, Hoshino was bidding to become just the fourth Japanese winner in DP World Tour history and second in less than three months after Ryo Hisatsune won the Cazoo Open de France.

A birdie at the 17th lifted him alongside Niemann at the top of the leaderboard but he was unable to produce a grandstand finish to regulation play as his birdie try from 25 feet came up short for speed.

Despite the disappointment, Hoshino can take consolation in the knowledge his second runner-up finish lifted him to second on the Race to Dubai Rankings in Partnership with Rolex and earned him qualification into The Open.

“It’s my first play-off on the DP World Tour today and it’s just a great experience,” he said. “It was a tough day out there, windy, rainy. I really wanted to get the birdie on 18 in the regulation, but I couldn't do it. But congratulations to Niemann.”

Trio claim spots at The Open

Adam Scott will make his 24th consecutive appearance since making his debut at The Open at St Andrews in 2000 after securing one of three spots on offer at the Australian Open.

The former Masters winner, who joins Niemann and Hoshino in the field, finished in a tie for fourth alongside Grant Forrest and Laurie Canter after carding a closing 68 which featured eight birdies and an untimely triple bogey.

Due to his higher standing on the Official World Golf Ranking than the British pair and with third-placed Min Woo Lee already exempt for Royal Troon, the Australian earned the third place to join Niemann and Hoshino in the field.

It was the second event in The Open Qualifying Series, which offers players around the world the chance to qualify for golf’s oldest Major.

The 152nd Open will be played at Troon from July 14-21 2024.

Burmester wins again in Joburg

For the second week running, Dean Burmester claimed victory on the DP World Tour in his home country as he won the Investec South African Open Championship by three shots.

The 34-year-old shot a final-round four-under-par 68 at Blair Atholl Golf & Equestrian Estate to back up his success at the Joburg Open in the opening week of the new season.

Burmester had looked in danger of missing the cut or even pulling out after feeling unwell on Friday, but made it through to the weekend on the number at level par.

He began the final day two shots adrift of the lead but moved to the top of the leaderboard by mixing three birdies with a bogey on the front nine.

Despite a second dropped shot at the 11th, he recovered with gains at the 12th, 16th and 17th to move three clear before carding a closing par to win his national open and fourth DP World Tour title.

"It's obviously one as a South African that I've always wanted to win,” he said. "So, to be the SA Open champion is something I'll never forget. It's a tournament I watched growing up and I watched a lot of legends."

Buhai defends women’s Australian Open title

The men's and women's ISPS HANDA Australian Opens were being played concurrently, alongside the All Abilities Championship, with the three fields playing over the same courses

South African Ashleigh Buhai successfully defended her title on Sunday as she held off a fast finish from fellow Major winner Minjee Lee to win by a shot.

In doing so, the 2022 British Open champion became the first back-to-back winner since Taiwan's Yani Tseng in 2011.

Having begun the final round, largely played in blustery conditions, with a three-stroke lead over South Korean Jiyai Shin and seven clear of home favourite Lee, a three-over 75 proved enough for to hand on for victory.

"To be honest, I wasn't feeling the pressure, I knew Minjee and Jiyai would come at me today," she said.

"But the conditions were so tough, I just said hit it into your spaces, play par golf and make them catch you."

Wood wins first G4D Tour title at All Abilities Championship

Lachlan Wood celebrated a three-stroke victory at the ISPS HANDA Australian All Abilities Championship in the season-opening event on the G4D Tour.

On his debut in the event, the Australian birdied two of his final three holes to card a closing one-under-par 70 at The Australian to finish level par in the 54-hole championship.

Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor finished second on three over after a final-round 73, with Wood’s compatriot Cameron Pollard a shot further back after all three players began the day in a share of the lead.

"It's a great feeling to finally get the job done," he said.

"'It was a great final group. We were all square teeing off the first so it was a good battle for the last eight."

The G4D Tour will return next month when the G4D Tour @ Ras Al Khaimah Championship takes place from January 22-23, 2024.