Investec has been declared as the title sponsor of the South African Open Championship, which is co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour and the Sunshine Tour.
Investec is a multinational financial and investment management company based in the United Kingdom and South Africa. It serves customers in Europe, Southern Africa, and Asia-Pacific with a variety of financial goods and offerings.
The SA Open is back on the DP World Tour schedule after being demoted to a single Sunshine Golf tournament the previous year due to the rise of the omicron strain. 156 golfers will compete for minimum prize money of $1.5 million in the SA Open, which is the second-longest-running national open in golf.
The 2022 SA Open will be held at Blair Atholl Golf and Equestrian Estate in Lanseria, with the exact date yet to be determined.
Since 2008, Investec has been a major supporter of South African golf, having sponsored the Royal Swazi Open and served as the primary sponsor of the SA Women’s Open’s since 2018. The Sunshine Ladies Tour’s Order of Merit and the Homegrown Award are both also sponsored by Investec.
Thomas Abt, Commissioner of the Sunshine Tour, said, “The South African Open has distinguished itself as one of the most prized titles in world golf with a legacy of champions which includes some of the greatest names in the game.
“We are proud to have our national Open associated with a sponsor that exudes the same spirit of excellence and professionalism for which this championship is known and which adds significantly to the legacy of this great event.
“Investec’s further support of our Sunshine Tour Transformation Class is an incredible investment on their part in the future potential of South African golf and aligns perfectly with our own vision that Greatness Begins Here on the Sunshine Tour.”
Peta Dixon, Investec’s Head of Sponsorships, said, “Investec is an organisation firmly rooted in South Africa and, as title sponsor of both South African Opens, we believe we can continue to contribute to a game so many are passionate about. The most powerful possibilities are human and so it is with great pride that we also announce our commitment to the Sunshine Tour Transformation Class for a three-year period.
“As the official patron, we will work alongside The Sunshine Tour to help close the gap between young talent becoming professional players, ensuring that, when the time comes, each player is suitably equipped to perform on the professional circuit.”
In addition, Lejan Lewthwaite, Nicole Garcia, Zethu Myeki, and Stacy Bregman are all professional female golfers, who are sponsored by Investec.