Few players at this week’s Jonsson Workwear Durban Open come armed with more knowledge than local favourite Brandon Stone.
With close family ties to Durban Country Club and board member Nic Jonsson, the final co-sanctioned event in the Rainbow Nation will feel like a home fixture for the 32-year-old.
What’s more, the South African arrives in familiar surroundings with DP World Tour pedigree to his name. Stone has featured five times on Golf’s Global Tour this season, making five cuts whilst also registering a top ten finish at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
Furthermore, with three DP World Tour wins to his name as well as a HotelPlanner Tour triumph on home soil at the 2021 Limpopo Championship, Stone notching a memorable hometown victory would not come as a surprise.
Last year, Stone found form at the 2026 Alfred Dunhill Championship at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington.
He also signalled his putter change as a big reason for his uplift in form, saying at the time: “It’s the first time my putter’s worked in probably 18 months to two years.
“I’ve gone to the long broomstick and everyone gave me a glance on the putting green over Monday through Wednesday, but she worked today and hopefully may that long continue.
“I probably holed a couple of six-footers for par here and there and then other than that, really hit it solid … it was kind of tricky, felt like the breeze was switching direction, but I played solid.
“Hit good golf shots all day, gave myself a lot of opportunities and you don’t often shoot eight under by not taking them.”
Photo: Jason Butler/Getty Images
Article Link: Will Stone make home comforts count?