With everything in place in Johannesburg, where the tournament will be played for the first time in two decades, Norris said he feels relaxed going into the championship as he will be staying at home. He added that he is looking forward to the challenge. “Winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship last year was massive for me. Every South African wants to win this tournament, and it was a special week for me. There’s a little bit of extra emotion in a week when you’re defending a title because you always want to try and defend. It’s also nice to be in Johannesburg and staying at home, so I’m a little bit more relaxed. This has always been a great golf course and as South Africans we all love it. It’s a demanding test,” said Norris. Norris comes into the second of back-to-back events in South Africa, on the DP World Tour, on a high after finishing fifth in his season opener at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in honour of Gary Player last week. That followed on from a career-best finish on last season’s Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World, adding a runner-up finish and three further top 10s to his victory on his way to finish 32nd on the 2025 standings. The Alfred Dunhill Championship has been played since 2000 and started out at Houghton Golf Club. Anthony Wall was the first winner and in 2001 Adam Scott won, followed by Justin Rose in 2002. In 2004 Charl Schwartzel won it the last time that it was played at Houghton before moving to Leopard Creek. Interestingly enough the Alfred Dunhill Championship was the first professional win for each of these three players. Ernie Els won the first event at Leopard Creek in 2005. Schwartzel has won four Alfred Dunhill Championship titles adding wins in 2012, 2013 and 2015. In 2012, he won by a record 12-shots on 24-under par – still a record. He has also had five runner-up finishes at Leopard Creek. The last four winners have all been South Africans - Christiaan Bezuidenhout in 2020, (2021 was cancelled due to Covid); Ockie Strydom in 2022; Louis Oosthuizen in 2023 and Norris last year.