Dean Burmester is regarded as one of the longest hitters in professional golf and, in this piece, we get to know the life and career of the LIV golfer a little bit better.
DEAN BURMESTER FACTS
1. Dean Burmester was born in Mutare, Zimbabwe on the June 2, 1989. Although he was born in Zimbabwe, he represents South Africa.
2. His father, Mark, played international cricket for Zimbabwe and was the first Zimbabwean to take a wicket in Test cricket. Meanwhile, his mother, Michelle, is a talented golfer who holds the women’s course record at Royal Harare Golf Club, Dean's home course.
3. He had a distinguished amateur career, which included selection for his province in the 2008 and 2009 interprovincial. He also won the International Team Championships in 2009.
4. Burmester turned pro in 2010 and joined the Big Easy Tour before going on to play the Sunshine Tour and the Challenge Tour in Europe.
5. His breakthrough Sunshine Tour win came in the 2013 Polokwane Classic, and he followed that up a year later with a victory in the 2015 Sun City Challenge.
6. He is regarded as one of the longest hitters in the game and averaged 323.46 yards on the DP World Tour in 2022.
7. In total, he has won 11 times on the Sunshine Tour between 2013 and 2024.
8. He lists Nick Price and Mark McNulty as his golfing inspirations growing up, which makes sense given both of those men come from Zimbabwe.
9. After claiming his second DP World Tour title in 2021, Burmester secured a PGA Tour card for the 2022-23 season, as he finished inside the Top 25 of the Korn Ferry Tour Finals
10. In February 2023, Burmester joined LIV Golf after only eight PGA Tour starts.
11. Having joined LIV Golf, Burmester signed for Stinger GC - an all South African team that is made up of Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace.
12. At the 2024 Joburg Open, he equalled the course record at Houghton GC, with nine birdies, one bogey and seven pars giving him a round of 62.
13. At the tail end of 2023, Burmester claimed back-to-back DP World Tour events at the Joburg Open and South African Open Championship.
14. During the 2023 Alfred Dunhill Championship, the South African produced a drive of 396 yards.
15. Per his LIV Golf profile, Burmester and fellow pro Justin Walters set up the non-profit organization - Birdies 4 Rhinos - which raises funds for conservation projects and to protect threatened wildlife.
16. Burmester's wife is called Melissa, and the pair married in November 2014. They live in Florida with their two young sons and also have a base in George, South Africa.
17. Burmester claimed his first LIV Golf victory at LIV Golf Miami in April by beating Sergio Garcia in a playoff.
18. When not playing golf, the South African enjoys fishing, cooking, watching TV and spending time with his family.
