Joburg Open "Ultimately Reduced to 36 Holes Due to COVID-19 Variant Impact"... Lawrence Wins

DP World Tour 2022 Season Opening Joburg Open: Omicron Emerges Amid Severe Weather Conditions

Tristan Lawrence is cheering while holding the trophy immediately after winning the Joburg Open. Johannesburg (South Africa) = Getty Images / MultiBits Photo by MultiBits

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "72 holes → 54 holes → 36 holes."

On the night of the 27th (Korean time), the final 3rd round of the DP World Tour (European Tour) 2022 season opener Joburg Open (total prize money $1.1 million), scheduled to be held at Randpark Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa (par 71, 7,506 yards), was canceled due to severe weather, and the "25-year-old rookie" Tristen Lawrence (South Africa) claimed a lucky victory (12 under par, 130 strokes). He earned a winner's prize of €138,918 (about 180 million KRW) and secured a ticket to the last major, The Open, in July.

This came after the tournament had already been reduced to 54 holes the previous day due to the impact of the South African COVID-19 variant "Omicron." When the UK and the European Union announced a sudden suspension of flights from Africa to prevent the spread of the new COVID-19 variant, many European players withdrew en masse. The South African Open, starting on the 2nd of next month, and the Alfred Dunhill Championship on the 9th were also removed from the DP World Tour schedule. Xander Lombard (South Africa) finished in 2nd place (8 under par, 134 strokes).