LIV Golf 2026 Season Player Preview: Dean Burmester

The 2026 LIV Golf season starts next February under the lights in Riyadh, and in the next few months, we’ll take a detailed look at each player competing next season. Next up is a player who’s been one of LIV Golf’s most consistent performers, Stinger GC’s Dean Burmester.

LOOKING AHEAD

Burmester has the tools to finish in the top 5 of the LIV Golf standings once again and is still improving every season. He’s had wins in back-to-back years, joining Joaquin Niemann and Sergio Garcia as the only players to do so, and should have a strong chance to make it three straight in 2026. He will get a chance to compete with home support in South Africa alongside his Stinger GC compatriots when LIV Golf makes its debut on the continent of Africa in March.

Burmester is clearly talented enough to compete in major championships. As a player still in the prime of his career, he will look to both qualify for majors and be more competitive in them when he’s in the field.

LOOKING BACK

Burmester had his best season yet on LIV Golf, finishing 5th in the season-long standings. The South African has been remarkably consistent throughout his LIV Golf career, finishing 14th or better in the season-long standings in all three of his seasons. Burmester won one of the most exciting events of the season in Chicago, edging out Jon Rahm and Josele Ballester in a playoff, and had three additional top 5 finishes in Riyadh (T4), Hong Kong (2) and UK (T5).

Burmester played in two major championships, missing the cut at the PGA Championship and finishing T61 at the Open Championship.

WHAT THE STATS SAY

Strengths: Burmester’s greatest strength remains his driving distance. He ranked 3rd in the league in driving distance and 9th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. His off-the-tee prowess allowed him to finish the season 2nd in Par 5 scoring, tied with Bryson DeChambeau and trailing only Jon Rahm.

The 36-year-old ranked 9th in Strokes Gained: Approach and excelled with his long irons, ranking 3rd in the league on approach shots 225+ yards. His long iron game has enabled him to compete on some of LIV Golf’s longest and most difficult courses, including Doral’s Blue Monster where he won in 2024 and Bolingbrook in 2025.

Weaknesses: Burmester’s only major statistical weakness in 2025 was putting, where he ranked 40th, losing 0.19 strokes to the field per round on average. As a player who ranked in the top 10 in both Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and Strokes Gained: Approach, lack of success on the greens is what has held Burmester back from winning multiple tournaments in both 2024 and 2025.

Burmester played the Par 3s to a score of 12-over in 2025 and hit only 52% of fairways, both of which were worst among players who finished in the top 10 in the season-long standings.

CAREER RESULTS

LIV GOLF REGULAR SEASON

TOTAL TROPHIES WON (4)

LIV GOLF CAREER SCORING

Stroke Average Total: 69.20
Round 1 Average: 68.90
Round 2 Average: 69.23
Round 3 Average: 69.46

Lowest Round: 62

BOTTOM LINE

Burmester is entering his late 30s but still ascending in terms of performance with room to get even better. His skill set is an ideal fit for the modern game, and he has the power to compete with any player in the world. The Stinger GC star has the capability to reel off multiple victories and lead Stinger GC to new heights in 2026 as well as qualify and compete for major championships.