This Week in Golf: Road to Augusta begins as Major season draws closer

The global golfing calendar is gathering momentum, and with it comes a growing sense of anticipation. The season is beginning to take shape across tours, storylines are emerging, and the countdown to The Masters, the first of only four Majors in the year, has well and truly begun.

This week, attention shifts to South Africa, where LIV Golf makes its long-awaited debut at Steyn City. It marks a significant moment for the tour, particularly in a country that has been central to its story since the beginning.

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South Africans have been a constant presence on LIV Golf since the inaugural event at Centurion Club in 2022, where Charl Schwartzel claimed the individual title and the Stingers GC, now Southern Guards GC, secured team honours. With a strong home contingent, expectations are high for another standout performance in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

The Southern Guards, featuring Dean Burmester (12th), Branden Grace (21st), Captain Louis Oosthuizen (27th) and Charl Schwartzel (33rd), sit sixth in the team standings and will look to capitalise on home advantage.

Elsewhere, the DP World Tour resumes with the Hainan Classic in China, opening the Asian Swing. Opportunities remain wide open across tours, with players chasing form, ranking points and momentum ahead of the season’s defining stretch.

And that stretch is fast approaching.

With just three weeks until Augusta, the narrative is far from predictable. World Number One Scottie Scheffler has yet to hit top form, Rory McIlroy continues his recovery, and the usual dominance at the top has been notably absent.

Meanwhile, LIV Golf’s leading names are finding rhythm at the right time. Perhaps it is time for another LIV Golf win at a Major. Let’s remind ourselves of the 11 LIV Golfers who will be at Augusta:

Jon Rahm, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, Tyrrell Hatton, Carlos Ortiz and Tom McKibbin.

The stage is quietly being set. Augusta is coming.

This Week’s Schedule

• LIV Golf
  March 19–22, 2026
  LIV Golf South Africa
  The Club at Steyn City, South Africa
  Purse: $30 million

• PGA Tour
  March 19–22, 2026
  Valspar Championship
  Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club, Florida
  Purse: $9.1 million

• DP World Tour
  March 19–22, 2026
  Hainan Classic presented by MAEXTRO
  Mission Hills Resort Haikou, China
  Purse: $2.55 million

• HotelPlanner Tour
  March 19–22, 2026
  DP World PGTI Open
  Classic Golf & Country Club, India
  Purse: $300,000

• LPGA Tour
  March 19–22, 2026
  Fortinet Founders Cup
  Sharon Heights Golf & Country Club, California
  Purse: $3 million

• Ladies European Tour
  March 19–22, 2026
  Australian WPGA Championship
  Sanctuary Cove Golf & Country Club