As the season nears its exciting conclusion, the energy on the DP World Tour continues to build. Just when we were soaking in the thrilling action of last week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge, we’re already diving into another high-stakes event: The Alfred Dunhill Championship, running from December 11 to 15 at Leopard Creek Golf Club.

This tournament has been a staple at Leopard Creek since 2005, which gives past participants a bit of an advantage, as they’re already familiar with the course. But don’t be fooled; familiarity doesn’t guarantee victory. With fierce competition in the mix, it’s not going to be a cakewalk.

The prize pool is impressive too. The total purse for the event is €1.4 million (around $1.47 million), with the winner taking home €255,000 ($268,000). The prize pool and the field share some similarities with last year’s event, where Louis Oosthuizen claimed the title. And now, the South African is back to defend his crown—could history repeat itself? We’ll see!

Here is how much the players will take home from the purse:

Poll of the day

Poll 1 of 5

Can Louis Oosthuizen defend his Alfred Dunhill Championship title against a star-studded field?

Yes, he's unstoppable

No, the competition is too fierce

It's anyone's game

Not sure

When did you watch your first golf tournament?

Yes, it's time for a change

No, their partnership is strong

Maybe, but only if results don't improve

I don't care as long as Spieth wins

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It’s Sunday, and The Masters is on. What’s your home setup?

Yes, they play a crucial role

No, the player is ultimately responsible

Sometimes, but it's a team effort

It's just an excuse for poor play

Do you agree with Justin Thomas' stance on keeping personal life private while promoting more player access during broadcasts?

Yes, privacy should be respected

No, more access is needed to boost viewership

It's a tough balance to strike

I don't care as long as the game is entertaining

Should the PGA Tour focus more on innovative broadcasting techniques or player-driven content to regain viewership?

Innovative broadcasting techniques

Player-driven content

A mix of both

Stick to traditional methods

Want to dive deeper?

Here are the articles that inspired recent polls.

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The Alfred Dunhill Championship is the fourth event in the DP World Tour’s Opening Swing phase, which culminates next week with the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open. At the end of this phase, the Opening Swing champion will pocket a $200,000 bonus and earn exemptions into Rolex Series events, as well as the Back 9 stage of the season.

Winning this event also comes with a significant boost in the rankings—17.7 Official World Golf Ranking points are up for grabs, depending on the field strength. Along with those points, the winner earns a two-plus season exemption on the European Tour and an invitation to some of the prestigious events.

But the rewards don’t end there. With 3,000 Race to Dubai points on offer, every player will be fighting for a piece of that pie. The winner will snag 500 DP World Tour points, and the player who earns the most points throughout the season will claim the coveted Race to Dubai title and its $6 million bonus pool. The top eight finishers in the standings will also share in that bonus.

Who may take the trophy at the 2024 Alfred Dunhill Championship?

The course of the Leopard Creek Country Club is studded with some great star power this time. Players like Louis Oosthuizen, Dean Burmester, and Charl Schwartzel are all in the mix. Schwartzel, in particular, has a strong history here, having won the event four times and finished as runner-up last year for the fifth time.

Other South African names to keep an eye on are Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Erik Van Rooyen. But as round two rolls on, things are shifting. Andy Sullivan is currently leading the leaderboard. With 340 tournaments under his belt and four DP World Tour wins Sullivan is currently maintaining good momentum. If he keeps this up, he could add another victory to his resume. Also making a push are Casey Jarvis and Alex Fitzpatrick, who are both right behind Sullivan on the leaderboard.

A few other popular names in the mix are Christiaan Bezuidenhout, who was tied for sixth at the Nedbank Golf Challenge last week. Then we have Francesco Laporta, who’s been in strong form with three T6 finishes in his last six starts and has yet to miss a cut since September.

With so much talent in the mix, this is shaping up to be a thrilling tournament. And for those who can’t be there in person, don’t worry! You can catch rounds 3 and 4 on Golf Channel and NBC from 4:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., with round 2 currently airing from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

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So, who are you rooting for this time? Let us know in the comments!