Casey Jarvis’s SA Open victory secured his debut at The Masters, while Jayden Schaper (pictured), currently 57th in the world rankings, aims to join him by improving his position before the March cutoff. Picture: KARIM JAAFAR / AFP
Image: KARIM JAAFAR / AFP
With the victory of Casey Jarvis in the SA Open at Stellenbosch Golf Club over the weekend, it means South Africa could have two debutants at The Masters next month.
For the first time in 2026, the winner of the SA Open is granted an invite to the year’s first major at Augusta in April. He also gains exemption into The Open Championship in July.
It was just an added bonus for Jarvis, who made it two victories in a row on the DP World Tour (DPWT) after his win at the Kenya Open for his first win on Tour.
Though it will be a debut at The Masters for the 22-year-old Jarvis, it’s not his first appearance at a major as he already played in the 2024 US Open when he missed the cut.
Meanwhile, another rising SA golf star - Jayden Schaper - will be desperate to make his major debut at The Masters.
Schaper has also broken through on the DPWT this season with victories two weeks in a row in December. Schaper first triumphed at the Alfred Dunhill Championship before grabbing the win at the Mauritius Open. To his credit, both his wins came in playoffs.
For Schaper, who turns 25 later this month, his place at Augusta has not been secured yet.
The top 50 players in the world rankings at the end of March will earn an invite to The Masters. Schaper is currently South Africa’s top-ranked golfer at 57th, and reached a career-high 49th at the beginning of February.
If he can turn in a couple more top results, he could move back inside the top 50 just in time.