‘Put My Name Next to His…’: Tiger Woods, Who Rejected a Whopping $800M to Join LIV Golf, Inspires 33-Year-Old Pro to Commit to the PGA Tour

Dean Burmester might be an unfamiliar name amongst the golf circles. But the South African golfer has massive ambitions for his future legacy, and wants to match his idol, Tiger Woods, in his golf triumphs, specifically on the PGA Tour.

Dean Burmester talks about his inspiration and Tiger Woods

Burmester talking about Tiger Woods is every fan’s fantasy. He is quite candid in confessing his inspiration and even more so in admitting what the future holds for him. “I’m like pretty much everybody else my age and younger,” he said. “Everyone grew up watching Tiger winning amazing historic events on the PGA Tour, and I want to come out here and try and put my name next to his on some of those trophies. It’s pretty simple.”

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Well, the ‘plan’ must be simple, but the onerous path towards securing a name in every one of Tiger Woods’ victories is an incredible ask. Only the peerless Jack Nicklaus holds more Major Championships (18) than Woods’ (15 to date). In an era where talented golfers have found it difficult to keep their run in the Majors going, Burmester’s plan must have a second thought.

Burmester claims he is going to support the PGA Tour

Even after tasting success in the DP Tour last year, the 33-year-old has set his sights on the PGA Tour in his bid to match Woods’ legacy. “I’m going to support the Tour. They’ve been so good to me, so I’m going to try and plan a schedule next year as best I can,” he said.

The assertion will put behind any hopes for LIV Golf to snatch another prospect from the hands of the PGA. Burmester also said the close strategic alliance between the DP Tour and the PGA Tour has helped his golf game to expand in the right direction. “Everything has kind of panned out, and the timing couldn’t be better with the relationship of the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour, and gives me a little bit of freedom, and I can just go out there and free-wheel it and play the best I can,” he said.

Burmester hasn’t been around golf tourneys for long. The Zimbabwe-born secured his PGA Tour card only last month at the Korn Ferry Tour Finals. However, he has arrived in America with a few wins in international competitions, specifically 10 in his professional career. Two of them have arrived at the DP Tour – the Tshwane Open and the Tenerife Open.

Burmester has made a solid start to his PGA career already, securing a fourth-place finish at the recently concluded Sanderson Farms Championship. Will he prove to be a man of his word and become the ‘next Tiger Woods’? Only time will tell, but he’ll certainly be in the mix at the PGA Tour for a long time to come.