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LIV Golf 2026 Season Preview: Southern Guards GC

Jan 22, 2026 - 1:07 PMWritten by: Matt VIncenzi

Southern Guards GC enters the 2026 season with a new look, name and logo, but brings back the same roster that finished third in the LIV Golf Team Championship.  

2026 ROSTER 

Louis Oosthuizen (captain), 47, South Africa. LIV Golf starts (46); Best result (T2) 

Dean Burmester, 39, South Africa. LIV Golf starts (41); Best result (1st) 

Charl Schwartzel, 41, South Africa. LIV Golf starts (46); Best result (1st) 

Branden Grace, 37, South Africa. LIV Golf starts (45); Best result (1st) 

OFFSEASON NEWS 

Although the South African team left their roster intact, the team made a transformational change from their original name of Stinger GC to one that encompasses the culture of the region in Southern Guards GC. The overhaul comes at a crucial point for the team, who are set to host the first LIV Golf event in South Africa in March.

2026 OBJECTIVES 

  • Win LIV Golf South Africa.  

  • Make a second consecutive LIV Golf Team Championship.  

  • Louis Oosthuizen to win his first LIV Golf individual event, joining his three teammates who’ve all previously done so.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHTS 

Louis Oosthuizen: Oosthuizen is coming off the worst season of his LIV Golf career but should be rejuvenated by the Southern Guards rebranding this season. He is one of the most talented players yet to earn a LIV Golf individual victory, but for Oosthuizen, team success has always appeared to be more important than individual success.

Dean Burmester: Burmester continues to be one of the most underrated players in the world. The issue for the 36-year-old is that he isn’t currently in the field for any major championship, and chances to qualify are few and far between. Burmester is the type of talent who can challenge for a spot in the top 5 of the individual standings. While Oosthuizen is the team leader off the course, it’s Burmester who sets the tone inside the ropes.

Charl Schwartzel: Schwartzel will never challenge Bryson DeChambeau in a long drive competition, but as the league’s best putter in 2025, he can grind as well as most players in the league. Schwartzel’s value is at its peak when he’s playing alongside a teammate in the team competition, but as a player in his early 40s, he’ll need to remain sharp and earn points individually if he’s to nab a precious Lock Zone spot at the end of the year.

Branden Grace: Grace knows all too well how difficult it is to play with the pressure of avoiding the Drop Zone for a large portion of the season. Two years ago, he finished in the Drop Zone, but what was brought back to the team. Last year, that was no longer an option, and Grace had to scratch and claw for every available point before getting hot towards the end of the season and finishing in the Open Zone. In 2026, Grace will want to get off to a fast start to sidestep that unwanted stress for a third consecutive year.  

WHAT THE STATS SUGGEST 

In 2025, the Southern Guards displayed an elite short game. They ranked fourth in the league in scrambling and second in putting. They were in the middle of the pack in both greens in regulation (sixth) and birdies made (sixth). 

WHERE CAN THEY IMPROVE? 

The Southern Guards’ most glaring area of weakness is off the tee. They are neither long (eighth) nor accurate (seventh) with the driver and tend to rely on their short game to score. 

KEY QUOTES 

Louis Oosthuizen on the rebrand to Southern Guards GC: "Yeah, look, it's a new chapter for us. Felt like we have our own identity now. We've built such a nice brand with Stinger GC, but this is the way forward for us, get the South African spirit in there, get the rhino in there, and we're very excited about what we can do going forward.”

Louis Oosthuizen on LIV Golf South Africa: "South Africa was obviously a massive thing for us to get the tournament. We had some great help from LIV and from other sportsmen to get it in the country, and I can tell you the fans are ready for it. Everyone is very excited.”

Louis Oosthuizen on the symbolism of the Rhino in the new logo: “I think rhinos are pretty close to everyone’s heart in South Africa and then we have Dean’s (Burmester) charity, which is Birdies for Rhinos. We just think it’s a really good symbol for our team.” 

BOTTOM LINE 

The Southern Guards may not be the flashiest team on LIV Golf, but they are extremely deep. The South Africans are connected on and off the golf course and they bring the best out of each other, embodying their “ubuntu” mantra. They’ll once again be an extremely competitive group and are always one of the toughest outs in the Team Championship. 

THREE BOLD PREDICTIONS 

  • Dean Burmester will finish top 10 in a major championship after qualifying. 

  • Louis Oosthuizen will finish in the Lock Zone after finishing 30th last season.  

  • They will win at least one team event.

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