South African Dean Burmester delivered a career-defining performance at the 2025 LIV Golf Chicago event, held at Bolingbrook Golf Club, outlasting high-profile Spaniards Jon Rahm and Josele Ballester in a dramatic suden death playoff to claim his second LIV Golf League title.
The victory marked Burmester’s most significant achievement since his LIV Golf Miami win in 2024, showcasing his resilience and clutch play.
Burmester, a 36-year-old veteran of the Sunshine Tour, European Tour, and now LIV Golf, entered the final round trailing but posted a steady even-par 71 to finish at 9-under 204 for the 54-hole event, tying Rahm and Ballester. His final round included a critical birdie on the par-4 16th, setting the stage for the playoff. On the first extra hole, the par-4 18th, Burmester sank a precise six-foot birdie putt, capitalizing on Rahm’s and Ballester’s inability to match him. The win netted Burmester a $4 million prize, adding to his lucrative 2025 season.
Rahm, the 2021 U.S. Open champion and LIV Golf’s biggest signing, carded a final-round 68 but couldn’t find the decisive spark in the playoff, settling for a share of second. Ballester, a rising Spanish star, matched Rahm’s score but also faltered under pressure. Both players, despite their pedigree, were outmaneuvered by Burmester’s composure on a course that demanded precision, with Bolingbrook’s tight fairways and fast greens testing the 54-player field.
Burmester’s path to victory was a testament to his grinding mentality. Known for his prodigious driving distance (averaging 324.3 yards, third on the LIV circuit), he leaned on his short game and putting, ranking eighth in putting average (1.57 putts per hole) for the season.
Reflecting on the win, Burmester said, “To come out on top against players like Jon and Josele, it’s something special. I just focused on my game and took it one shot at a time.”
Burmester’s victory was a surprise to many, especially given Rahm’s star power, but it underscored Burmester’s ability to seize opportunities, a trait honed through years on the Sunshine Tour where he has 11 career wins.
The South African’s 2025 LIV season has been a breakout, with a T4 in Riyadh, a solo second in Hong Kong, and a T5 in the United Kingdom, placing him fourth in the individual standings with 140.74 points. His Chicago triumph further solidified his status as a consistent contender, despite not carrying the same name recognition as Rahm, a former world No. 1, or Ballester, a promising talent.
For Rahm, the loss was a missed chance to add an individual LIV title to his resume, though his Legion XIII team has secured three team wins in 2025. Ballester’s strong showing kept him in the conversation as one of LIV’s young emerging stars.
Burmester’s win also highlighted his personal journey. After earning a PGA Tour card in 2022, he joined LIV Golf in February 2023. His decision has paid dividends, with five worldwide wins since November 2023, including the Joburg Open, South African Open, and Vodacom Origins of Golf Final.
“I’ve been at the receiving end of tough losses,” Burmester noted post-round, referencing his growth since a 2016 playoff loss on the Sunshine Tour. “This one feels good.”
The LIV Golf Chicago event, the 12th of 13 in the 2025 season, set the stage for the season-ending Individual and Team Championships in Indianapolis from August 15-17.
Burmester’s victory, coupled with his Stinger GC team’s consistent performances alongside teammates Louis Oosthuizen, Branden Grace, and Charl Schwartzel, positions him as a dark horse heading into the finale. For now, the journeyman from Mutare, Zimbabwe, basks in the glow of a signature win, proving he can go toe-to-toe with golf’s elite.
