The Joburg Open Predictions - 4 selections for the title in Johannesburg

Brad Newcomb

Editor

Last updated: 2 hours ago

Share

Brad Newcomb 2 hours ago

Share this article

The Joburg Open takes place between 5-8 March.
The tournament takes place at the Houghton Golf Club, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Top contenders: Angel Ayora, Hennie du Plessis, Francesco Laporta, and Antoine Rozner.

Angel Ayora has been knocking hard lately (Getty Images)

A competitive field returns to the Houghton Golf Club to contest the Joburg Open this weekend. Who will win the latest event on the DP World Tour come Sunday?

Calum Hill is back to defend his title after a play-off victory over Shaun Norris and Jacques Kryswijk in 2025.

Past Major winner Patrick Reed is in the field, along with former champions Dan Bradbury, Thriston Lawrence, Andy Sullivan, George Coetzee, and Richard Sterne.

These are our four selections that could win this weekend.

Angel Ayora

Angel Ayora has been in great shape on the DP World Tour this season, placing T8 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, T46 at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, T21 at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, T13 at the Dubai Invitational, T26 at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, MC at the Bahrain Championship, T5 at the Qatar Masters, T8 at the Magical Kenya Open, and T9 at the Investec South African Open Championship last weekend.

Other notable results achieved by Ayora last year include a T11 at the Soudal Open, a T19 at the KLM Open, a T7 at the Italian Open, a T13 at the Betfred British Masters, a T8 at the Omega European Masters, a T5 at the Amgen Irish Open, a T5 at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, a T9 at the Open de Espana, a T7 at the Genesis Championship, a T9 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, and a T8 at the DP World Tour Championship.

The Spaniard will make his debut at the 2026 Joburg Open this weekend.

Ayora has registered three consecutive top-ten finishes and will have a chance to win his maiden DP World Tour title at the Houghton Golf Club this weekend.

Hennie du Plessis

Hennie du Plessis has been performing well this season, placing T64 at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, T25 at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, T19 at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, T16 at the Bahrain Championship, T15 at the Qatar Masters, 3rd at the Magical Kenya Open, and T2 at the Investec South African Open Championship last weekend.

Before returning to the DP World Tour after a lengthy absence, du Plessis competed in two events on the Sunshine Tour, finishing T4 at the Stella Artois Players Championship and T2 at the Fitch and Leedes PGA Championship.

The South African has made seven appearances at the Joburg Open, with results of MC in 2015, MC in 2017, T13 in 2017, T35 in 2020, 7th in 2021, T33 in 2023, and T21 in 2023.

Du Plessis will start confidently as he looks to secure a victory in Johannesburg, having been knocking hard in his last two tournaments.

Francesco Laporta

Francesco Laporta struggled with his game at the start of the DP World Tour season but has come good in recent outings, with results of MC at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, T25 at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open, MC at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, T16 at the Bahrain Championship, T52 at the Qatar Masters, 4th at the Magical Kenya Open, and T2 at the Investec South African Open Championship last weekend.

Other prominent performances achieved by Laporta last year include a T11 at the Soudal Open, a T7 at the KLM Open, a T10 at the Italian Open, a T7 at the BMW International Open, a T24 at the BMW PGA Championship, a T17 at the FedEx Open de France, and a T14 at the Genesis Championship.

The Italian golfer has been in decent nick in his last five starts at the Joburg Open, finishing T76 in 2016, T16 in 2017, T13 in 2022, T47 in 2023, and T19 in 2025.

Laporta has found form and will fancy his chances of pocketing the winner's cheque at the Houghton Golf Club come Sunday.

Antoine Rozner

Antoine Rozner has been in solid form since his return to the DP World Tour, placing T46 at the Nedbank Golf Challenge, T14 at the Alfred Dunhill Championship, T10 at the Dubai Invitational, MC at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, MC at the Bahrain Championship, T9 at the Qatar Masters, T14 at the Magical Kenya Open, and T24 at the Investec South African Open Championship last weekend.

Other noteworthy results achieved by Rozner on the PGA Tour last season include a T13 at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, a T24 at the RBC Canadian Open, a T22 at the Genesis Scottish Open, a T12 at the FedEx Open de France (DP World Tour), and a T25 at the RSM Classic.

The three-time DP World Tour winner finished T20 overall at the 2020 Joburg Open on debut.

Rozner has been there and thereabouts lately and could upstage the others with the victory in Johannesburg this weekend.

Verdict

Ayora has gone close to winning a few times this season and will have a chance to secure the title in Johannesburg this weekend.

Du Plessis has been playing consistently well lately and could win the Joburg Open come Sunday.

Laporta appears to have turned the corner and will be challenging for the title at the Houghton Golf Club this weekend.

Rozner is no stranger to winning on the DP World Tour and can lift the trophy come Sunday.

Angel Ayora

Each-Way

@13.00 - 1 Unit

Deposit R3,000 Get R3,000

100% bonus up to R3,000

Your first deposit at 10bet should be of at least R20. Get 100% up to R3,000 Bonus to bet on sports or games. New customers only. 18+ T&Cs and wagering requirements apply. To activate the bonus, select it from the cashier.

Bet at 10bet

Hennie du Plessis

Each-Way

@15.00 - 1 Unit

Get up to R3,750 + 25FS

125% with promo code BETS

The ZARbet code is BETS. 18+. T&Cs apply.

Bet at ZARbet

Francesco Laporta

Each-Way

@19.00 - 1 Unit

R20,000 Bonus (100%)

use promo code NEWBONUS

18+ only. T&Cs apply. Winners know when to stop.

Bet at World Sports Betting

Antoine Rozner

Each-Way

@34.00 - 1 Unit

Bet R50, Get R50 Extra Bet

use promo code NEWBONUS (not required)

The Mzansibet promo code is NEWBONUS for casino. There is no requirement to use a code to avail of the "Bet R50, Get R50 Extra Bet" sport welcome bonus. To qualify, place your first real-money sports bet of at least R50 at minimum odds of 2.0. 18+. T&Cs apply.

Bet at Mzansibet