The European Tour returned to Johannesburg for another year of the Joburg Open, and with both the East and West courses at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington employed for the pro-am tournament, a large crowd turned out for the celebratory dinner in the marquee overlooking the 18th fairway, which was hosted by Dan for a fourth successive year.

The audience included councillors from the City of Johannesburg, professional golfers, members of the European and Sunshine Tours, and leading member’s of the city’s business community, who all pledged support to Mayor Parks Tau’s commitment to utilise the Joburg Open as a platform to raise money for the building of the Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital in Johannesburg.

Also in attendance were members of the Royal and Ancient, golf’s governing body, who brought the Open Championship trophy – the famous Claret Jug – to support the Joburg Open’s new status as a qualifying event for the Open Championship in Liverpool later this year.

As one of seven co-sanctioned European Tour events in South Africa, the Joburg Open attracts some of the world’s best golfers, and showcases the city to a worldwide television audience.