Ken Borland

Despite having won three times previously in South Africa on the Sunshine Tour, including one co-sanctioned event with the European tour, Shaun Norris was not on the lips of most fans as a potential winner of last weekend’s Alfred Dunhill Championship, adding to the sense of surprise when the 42-year-old snatched the prestigious title at Leopard Creek.

Norris fired an inspired five-under-par 67 in the fourth round to post 13-under for the tournament and overturn a six-shot deficit in the final round to win one of the major South African championships. He saw off more fancied opponents like Sweden’s Marcus Kinholt, reigning Sunshine Tour Order of Merit winner Ryan van Velzen, record-breaking Frenchman Romain Langasque, well-travelled former SA Open champion Dean Burmester, veteran campaigner Joost Luiten and the ‘King’ of Leopard Creek, Charl Schwartzel, who has won this tournament four times and finished second on five occasions.

It was Norris’s 13^th professional win, but perhaps the reason he is so under-rated at home is because seven of those triumphs have come in Japan. That is despite winning the Africa Open and the Nashua Masters, prime events on the Sunshine Tour, as well as the Steyn City Championship co-sanctioned by the DP World Tour, and now the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

The Johannesburg-born golfer has been ranked as high as 54^th in the world, but does not always get mentioned as one of South Africa’s best golfers.

“This is my fourth win in South Africa so I’m not sure why golf fans don’t know me so well,” Norris told SportsBoom.com after his dramatic Leopard Creek win by one stroke. “I love playing on the Japan Tour though, it brings out my better golf.

“But the Japan Tour don’t advertise that much, they’re not on TV everywhere, but there are great golfers there who a lot of people don’t often get to see. Winning the Japan Open in 2021 is still my biggest win because it’s a national open, that was massive. This Alfred Dunhill Championship ranks next, and my next step is to try and win the South African Open,” Norris said.

Even after winning the Steyn City Championship in Johannesburg in 2022 and earning a DP World Tour card, Norris has continued to focus his energies on playing in Japan and also on the Asian Tour, where he has won twice.

But this time his schedule could change a bit, with Norris telling SportsBoom that he will add more DP World Tour events to his roster.

“I’ve got so much to look forward to over the next few years and I will definitely be making some changes. Right now it’s time for a holiday and spending time with the family.

“But this win shows that my golf is good enough to compete with the guys in Europe and to put my name on the same trophy as Ernie Els, Charl Schwartzel, Branden Grace and Louis Oosthuizen is very special. I’ll definitely be starting a few more tournaments in Europe, in places like Dubai, Qatar etc,” Norris said.

Schwartzel, Grace and Oosthuizen are members of the Stinger GC in LIV Golf and three of that team were at Leopard Creek last weekend – Schwartzel, Burmester and defending champion Oosthuizen (who missed the cut).

Grace was absent because he was trying to save his spot on the LIV Tour in the Promotions event in Riyadh. He had to win the tournament to retain his card, but narrowly failed as he finished runner-up, two strokes behind Lee-Chieh Po from Taiwan.

Stinger, who have one of the strongest team identities on the LIV Tour because they are all South Africans, will now have to make a “business case” to the organisation for Grace to retain his place. This was confirmed to SportsBoom by Norris’s agent, who was wearing Stinger GC branded kit.

And Norris has previously played on the LIV Tour, winning $1 million in 2022. So perhaps that is another option, if Grace falls out, for someone who surely wants to gain the appreciation and respect his exploits and more than €7 million in career—earnings deserve?

The DP World Lions Ladies team produced an excellent display at the weekend to inflict a first defeat of the season on the HollywoodBets Dolphins in Durban, as they beat the log-leaders by 31 runs in their Pro20 Series match.

Having won the toss and elected to bat first, opener Nonkululeko Thabethe stuck around brilliantly until the penultimate over as her run-a-ball 55 provided the backbone of our innings on a slow pitch that provided a little turn.

Thabethe was well-supported by fellow opener Palesa Mapoo (22) in a fine opening stand of 49, and then she and Kirstie Thomson (24) added another 40 for the second wicket, providing the foundation for a competitive total of 126 for three in their 20 overs.

The DP World Lions were then outstanding with the ball and in the field as they bundled the high-flying Dolphins out for just 95 in 18.5 overs.

Former Border spinner Liyema Jubati had not played for #ThePrideOfJozi before, but she was not overawed even though she was given the new ball. She responded by dismissing the in-form Alexandra Candler (11) and then three overs later Jubati fielded superbly at wide mid-on and scored a direct hit at the bowler’s end to run out Nicole de Klerk (18).

Jubati’s slick fielding would see her effect another run out towards the end of the Dolphins innings, and although she did not take another wicket while bowling, the Dolphins batters were not able to score quickly off her either as she conceded just 17 runs in her four overs.

The Dolphins batters were not able to handle the spin of Raisibe Ntozakhe either, as she ripped through the middle-order with three for 24 in her four overs, and another slow bowler, Madison Landsman, took two for six.

In the HollywoodBets Pro50 Series match on the preceding day, #ThePrideOfJozi skipper Kgomotso Rapoo also won the toss, but this time selected to bowl first. A very good batting display by the Dolphins saw them post 286 for three, with Candler scoring 104 and De Klerk 96.

Sarah Nettleton was the best of the DP World Lions bowlers, her 10 overs of accurate spin going for just 33 runs.

In reply, the DP World Lions batters could probably have shown better shot-selection, as the crack Dolphins attack bowled them out for 171, inflicting a 115-run defeat.

Thomson was the best of the batters with a mature 53 off 70 balls, while Jenna Evans showed her talent as she cracked 43 not out off 56 deliveries.

Staying calm under pressure is probably the most necessary attribute needed to succeed at the highest level of sport and Marais Erasmus always gave the impression when he was umpiring out in the middle that he was in full possession of his faculties and emotions.

Getting 94% of your decisions correct – the general benchmark for being on the International Cricket Council’s Elite Panel of umpires – requires great composure and equanimity, as well as the ability to maintain credibility and authority in the highly-charged arena of the game at its pinnacle.

They are the qualities that Erasmus was most known for during his 16-and-a-half years as an international umpire. As renowned Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle says in the Foreword to the biography Telford Vice has written on the South African umpire – Marais Erasmus: The Rock ‘n Roll Years – “Apart from everything else, umpires, like doctors, must radiate confidence and a sense of calm. Marais Erasmus had that. When he walked out on to the field, you felt secure. You knew you were in safe hands.”

While the former Boland bowling all-rounder’s ‘bedside manner’ was imperturbable, Erasmus himself says it is a bit of an illusion.

“I didn’t set out to have a straight face all the time, and I did struggle sometimes not to show my emotions. But I couldn’t give away to the players that I was shitting myself, they do pick up that sort of thing.

“I just tried to apply the laws, even though sometimes a law is controversial. There are some grey areas in cricket, although less so than in rugby. I think it helps immensely to have been a former player, although it’s not a given that if you played good cricket you will become a good umpire – there are lots of other skills involved.

“Simon Taufel was one of the best umpires ever and he didn’t play first-class cricket, so potential umpires shouldn’t be discouraged if they didn’t play to a high level. But at the Elite level, on average 10 of the 12 on the ICC panel will have played first-class cricket, a lot of them have played international cricket. In South Africa, about 40% of our umpires are former first-class players. It means you’ve been in pressure situations before, the players will accept you more and that gives you confidence,” the former Boland flyhalf/fullback says.

The cricket world changed dramatically while Erasmus was progressing from a player who retired in 1996/97 to making his international debut as an umpire in 2006, standing in his first Test in 2010. In that time, the television umpire has become crucial, and the IPL arrived, making India the global superpower of the game. But, unfortunately, India have also not been shy to exert a “Might Is Right” philosophy on cricket and they are used to getting what they want. Which included not using DRS for their games until the absence of it had burned them too often.

Hostile crowds are matched by over-stimulated players like Virat Kohli, who occasionally lose their impulse control. One of India’s greatest captains infamously shouted into the stump-mics at Newlands in January 2022, accusing broadcasters SuperSport and the umpires of bias. Erasmus was standing in that match alongside compatriot Adrian Holdstock due to the Covid pandemic and the difficulties it caused in terms of international travel.

Erasmus had to give Sachin Tendulkar out lbw in his debut Test, thankfully not in India, where international cricket’s leading run-scorer is literally considered to be a god. These are also the days of social media allowing millions of people to dissect and criticise every decision. The officials can be crucified in the court of public opinion should they get the wrong decision wrong at the wrong time. Just think of how we South Africans curse referee Bryce Lawrence to this day for giving David Pocock free rein in the breakdowns during the 2011 Rugby World Cup quarterfinal.

So Erasmus experienced pressure right from the outset and his ability to handle it saw him appointed to the middle for seven World Cup finals across the formats, including the greatest of them all, the 2019 finale’ at Lord’s when England and New Zealand tied and England won the super over.

“Virat was like some of the kids when I was teaching. You give him Ritalin in the morning and you’ll have a good day. But sometimes by second break it’s gone … But we had a good relationship. David Warner is a dangerous man because he doesn’t understand when he’s being stupid and Ricky Ponting always wanted to fight with umpires,” Erasmus says.

Nathan Lyon is someone Erasmus singles out as a favourite, the Australian off-spinner saying on a live television interview that “Marais is a great man and an even better umpire,” when former captain Mark Taylor asked pointed questions about decisions that did not go their way.

Ben Stokes is another who Erasmus found to be likeable and the recently-retired England captain was, of course, pivotal in that 2019 World Cup final.

“Ben is one of my favourites. When you go to a team’s practice, some of the players ignore you but others come up to you. Ben would always ask how the last few months have been, how’s your family? He’s a good human being, although he has got himself in trouble and been through some fires on occasion.”

The details of the drama of the overthrows off Stokes’s arm and the full explanation as to why England were credited with an extra run they shouldn’t have been, are all in the book. Typically, Erasmus does not shy away from accountability.

“The overthrow incident was just a mistake. Kumar Dharmasena and I looked at each other and said ‘Six? Yeah’. Rod Tucker, the TV umpire, asked over the comms whether it was six and Peter Manuel, who was our umpires coach, was trying to explain that where the ball was released was crucial. But that was impossible for me to see.

“Part of the romance of our sport is that the umpires are not without blemish. The only way to survive as an umpire is not to dwell on your wrong decisions. Our coaches used to tell us to park them; my one New Zealand colleague then said ‘but my parking lot is full’.”

In Marais Erasmus: The Rock ‘n Roll Years, the subject brings that same voice of reason and gentle humour to corruption in cricket, the rise of technology and the many memorable Ashes clashes he was involved with.

There may still be a lot of water to flow under the bridge in terms of LIV and a deal to unify golf once again, but the Stinger GC team, made up of four South Africans, is pushing ahead with plans to grow their popularity at home and ultimately bring the breakaway league to this country.

Latest reports suggest Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV’s chief backers, is in advanced talks over buying a 6% investment in PGA Tour Enterprises.

Richard Glover, the general manager of Stinger GC, which comprises Louis Oosthuizen, Dean Burmester, Branden Grace and Charl Schwartzel, says LIV is here to stay and eager to expand their presence in South Africa.

“It’s a team that really works and now we are trying to build a business brand for it. South Africans understand team sport and Stinger comprises four very authentic people, what you see is what you get with them. They are great friends and they have a great relationship,” Glover, who was previously the CEO of Tennis SA and a vice-president of the ATP Tour, told Rapport at Leopard Creek this week.

“I’m absolutely convinced LIV can work in South Africa and there is definitely an interest in hosting an event here. The when and the where are still open for discussion, but I believe there is a big opportunity for that moving forward. Maybe in 2026 or 2027?

“The obstacles are the exchange rate and the economic situation here, but LIV see it as a key market because of the history of golf here and the support base it has. LIV would resonate with our fans and it would be incredibly exciting to see some of the best golfers in the world up against our South African boys on their home turf.

“Ultimately we want to grow the Stinger and LIV brands here. We want to have a year-round footprint, so you will see Stinger clothing in the pro shops,” Glover said.

Burmester and Schwartzel were both in contention at the weekend in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek, while Oosthuizen is the defending champion. There is clearly nothing wrong with the standard of play in LIV Golf.

“We’re still all competitors. It may be a different tour, but it’s definitely not the case that our games have become worse,” Schwartzel said. “There are great players on the LIV tour, names all the way through like Mickelson, Johnson, De Chambeau and Cam Smith, and we work extremely hard. We still arrive on the Monday and have an extra day to practise. Playing three rounds actually makes it harder to win because there is no let-up. I shot 71 on the first day here [Leopard Creek] and in LIV that would put you out of contention. With four rounds, you have more of a chance to make up the deficit. People who doubt the standard of play are just looking for excuses to criticise the tour.

Some of the brash new elements LIV have introduced would be considered terrible behaviour on the established tours, but this year’s event in Adelaide provided incredible entertainment.

Stinger GC and Ripper GC went head-to-head in a playoff for the title and the intensity was incredible, perhaps because they are the two teams with the strongest identities, being composed of South Africans and Australians respectively.

“Growing up, I played cricket and used to dream of the stadium-style contest. That was the closest I’ve got to experiencing that,” Burmester said. “There were thousands of people within yards of the golfers. I could barely make my backswing in some places, you’re asking 30 rows to move back. It was nervewracking and we lost, but it really helped my game.

“South Africa would be an incredible fit for LIV and there is work behind the scenes to make it happen, we are pulling on many strings. I feel we can create that Australian vibe, that stadium-style finish.”

Imagine a rematch at Sun City, South Africa versus Australia? With the Chasing the Sun documentary team doing behind-the-scenes coverage as they are currently doing for Stinger GC …

“That playoff was a critical moment for LIV and the scenes in Adelaide were incredible,” Glover said. “South Africa against Australia is always a grudge match because we both have such strong national identities. We would love a rematch with the Rippers!”