While the teams are eager to beat each other, they are also connected by representing a distinctive region of golf fans that are some of the most knowledgeable and passionate fan bases in the world.
“I’d expect [the fans] to get behind the Southern Guards the way that the Adelaide crowds have got behind the Ripper team the last couple of years,” said Lucas Herbert. “A really good, loyal, vocal fan base out here in South Africa. You see that across all the sports they excel in, whether it’s rugby, cricket, they get right behind their national teams, and the Southern Guards really represent South Africa well at this point in the golfing scene, so I would imagine they would be pretty vocally behind them.”
Both teams are extremely close off the golf course, with their relationships defined by their national pride as well as their drive to get better on the golf course.
“I think we’re all pretty cruisy, all pretty laid back,” said Smith. “But all extremely motivated to do better. We have a laugh in the team room, in dining, but once we get out on the golf course, even in practice rounds, we’re all competitive, trying to make each other better. It’s a really good team dynamic that we have and something that we’re super proud of. But we’re always trying to get better.”
The Ripper boys have had the edge this season, but with a home course advantage and plenty of experience on South Africa’s unique agronomy, the Southern Guards are confident they’ll earn their first big blow in the rivalry this week.
“We grew up with kikuyu grass,” Grace explained. “The rest of the field has probably never even seen it the way that we know it. It’s immaculate. It’s in awesome condition. Obviously, the weather has not played its part so much, but I think the weather for the week looks good, so the course is just going to get firmer, faster, better, but we’re all in for a hell of a treat.”
“Maybe this is all it needs, coming home, being in front of your home fans, being comfortable, and just having all our friends and family here,” Grace added. “Sometimes just being relaxed and having a good time is all it needs. I think everybody is in for a big treat this week.”
Burmester, who finished runner-up in the 2022 Steyn City Championship, put it more bluntly: “Get the crowd get behind us, and we expect a lot of great things, and pretty sure the Aussies might have a slightly harder time than they do in Adelaide.”