FOLLOWING on his maiden victory in the 2022 iteration of the Joburg Open, English golfer Dan Bradbury returned for the tournament’s 18th edition for a narrow triumph over fellow Englishman Brandon Robinson Thompson at the Houghton Golf Club on the Sunday of March 8, 2026.
In a seesaw finale contested over the last six holes, the 26-year-old survived a nervy period during which the lead changed hands among contenders who included the South African duo of Hennie du Plessis and Casey Jarvis, to card a closing 65 for a single stroke margin of victory – which averted a playoff after Jarvis came agonizingly close at the 18th, but for a missed birdie putt which relegated him to joint second place alongside Thompson on 66.
Bradbury’s triumph edged him closer to earning a PGA Tour card whilst local player Jarvis’s not winning the home tourney meant he lost out on chalking up a trio of successive victories on the DP World Tour which would had had him join the ilk of Sir Nick Faldo and the late Seve Ballesteros as the few who had achieved such a rare feat.
The recent SA Open winner was a picture of agony at the 18th as he rued what could have been before, Bradbury – who had the advantage of being in the last group following after Jarvis’ and Thompson’s – nodded home much to his delight, as well as that of his partner, Brogan Kerr, who had been following him throughout the sun-splashed final round.
On Sunday’s final round, with the sky clear and sunny, the US-educated player steadily recovered by producing three birdies in succession on holes 9, 10 and 11 – and also at 14 and 17 which brought him back in contention.
At the ultimate hole of the back nine, Bradbury then executed a chip to make par for his second win It was ecstasy for the Wakefield-based player who had to dodge being playfully sprinkled with water in celebration on the 18th before Kerr fell into his embrace for a peck and a savouring of a moment in a competition which had commenced with unideal weather conditions on Thursday’s First Round of play.
With the victory – his third on the European Tour and second on the Sunshine Tour – Bradbury joins the South African duo of Richard Sterne and Charl Schwartzel, as the only players to have won the Joburg Open more than once.
He had carded a score of 64 70 64 65 over the four rounds of contestation in the Jack Nicklaus-designed northern Johannesburg course.
Among those present to congratulate Bradbury during the prize-giving ceremony were the City of Johannesburg mayor, Councillor Dada Morero – who handed him the winner’s trophy – as well as 10-year old Tshiamo Makamedi, a young golfer who had hit the ceremonial opening tee shot at the tournament on the first day of play.
“It’s so nice to have so many people here that I know,” averred the young victor who had first won the South African competition for his first DP World Tour title – in what was just his third European Tour start – at the same venue back in 2022, in the very year he turned professional.
Top Image Jacob MAWELA (Dan Bradbury limned in full cry on the Houghton Country Club course, en route to his second triumph in the Joburg Open in Johannesburg).
