Exclusive: Louis Oosthuizen and Southern Guards Embrace South African Identity Ahead of LIV Golf Home Debut

The Republic of South Africa is well-known for the excellence of their sporting teams, with both the rugby Springboks and the Proteas Test cricket team being the reigning world champions, and the team component of LIV Golf is something the Southern Guards take very seriously.

Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel, Dean Burmester and Branden Grace are passionate about representing South Africa and winning the team competition when LIV Golf comes to the country for the first time, at Steyn City in March, is an absolute priority for the quartet.

The Ripper GC from Australia has been the only other team to focus on their national identity with such intensity, but captain Oosthuizen believes LIV Golf is heading towards a situation where the team event will be the most important one.

"The team competition is probably more important for us than the individual one, especially when we play at home for the first time. I'm hoping that eventually LIV will be just about the teams, but that can only happen if world ranking points are taken off the table," Oosthuizen told SportsBoom.co.za.

"I've been part of Presidents Cup teams and it is brilliant. That only happens once every two years though, here on the LIV tour we have it every week. Playing with three unbelievable friends also helps to make the captaincy easier. The team factor is a massive thing and I hope LIV go further with it." 

"We feel like we are representing South Africa, and that makes a big difference to your enjoyment. I think LIV want every team to have a home tournament, representing cities or regions or countries. England have their Majesticks and the Rippers represent Australia and we want to see more of that."

"And it's not just us players who are South African, 95% of the Southern Guards camp is South African. Coming from the same backgrounds means we are all hungry for success. And we're very proud of what we've achieved in bringing LIV to South Africa and there are lots of golfers very excited about coming here," Oosthuizen said.

Burmester points to the growing rivalry between the South African team and Ripper GC as one of the highlights of LIV Golf.

"The team aspect is growing and there's definitely space for it because we've just played as individuals all our careers. The team component is definitely making strides and it helps to grow the tour when we have the pride of playing for our country. Ourselves and Ripper have really been leading the way with that," Burmester said told SportsBoom.co.za. 

"The other perspective of being in a team is that it's special to be able to lean on your team-mates. Golf can be a lonely game and sometimes your caddy is the last person you want to speak to! But in LIV you have three guys to pat you on the shoulder."

"In 2024 in Miami, with the finish I had, making my only bogey on the 18th to slip into a playoff, it was probably the toughest thing I've experienced in my career. But all three of my team-mates were waiting for me in the locker-room, previously I would have gone in and broken something and then gone back to my hotel room feeling sorry for myself. But after they encouraged me, I won the playoff," Burmester added. 

Public to get behind team

The South African public is also bound to get behind the team concept.

"Team sports seem to have the bigger followings and even in golf, look at the Presidents and Ryder cups, you see big turnouts and how energetic the support can get. LIV Golf gives us the opportunity to experience that. There's still the individual side of course, but LIV seems to be moving more in the direction of team competition," Schwartzel said.

"That's what will bring a bigger following and make it different. The team event provides a big opportunity to boost the popularity and growth of the tour." 

Obviously not ideal

Being forced to change their name from Stinger GC to the Southern Guards due to trademark issues overseas was obviously not ideal from a marketing point of view, and Richard Glover, the general manager of the team, is realistic about it needing time for the new identity to capture the imagination like Stinger did.

"I think there will be a mixed reaction because there are emotional ties to Stinger, but I think over time our new brand will resonate with the fans. But it will take time because we are starting from zero again. It was a tough decision to make, but we had limited options because of the trademark challenges in some markets and countries outside South Africa," Glover said. 

"But there's that old saying that you need to turn every crisis into an opportunity and changing to Southern Guards has made us more South African and more closely associated with our roots. It's about our values and the stories that underpin that, and I think it will be quite an effective rebranding."