Hill – Could He Be Tempted To Drop By Houghton GC?

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Scot Calum Hill has returned to Johannesburg for a second occasion in nine months and on a high as he heads into the week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship in the South African capital.

In March, Hill ended a four-year victory drought cutting a swathe through the final round field, coming from eight shots back in posting a sizzling 62 under a ‘one-club’ preferred lie rule on the rain-softened Houghton course fairways to grab the clubhouse lead ahead of a near hour long wait to be crowned champion.

Hill emerged from the clubhouse to join two others and with all three managing to dodge the threat of approaching lightning and for the Scot to claim his second DP World Tour win beating home favourites Jacques Kruyswijk and Shaun Norris with a par at the second extra hole play-off .

Among those first to congratulate Hill was wife, Miranda along with good friend and fellow Scot Connor Syme, who shared ninth and Hills coach in the Joburg-based Grant Veenstra.

Of note, Hill’s win came just a few months after being dumped by equipment supplier PING following a 17-year relationship.

Hill, along with Syme and four other Scots is teeing-up at this week’s Royal Johannesburg course, located just five kilometres from the Houghton club where Hill succeeded.

Speaking in March, Hill said:”It’s awesome. A little bit surprised there, I thought we were having to go again (to another play-off hole).

“And then (the lightning) is ridiculous so I don’t know what was going to happen but yeah, I’m delighted.

“It was a fantastic day and this is the cherry on top.

“Getting the birdie on the 18th was the only way I was going to have a chance. I got lucky with the bounce up the slope and made a nice five-footer and then it gave me a chance to have a go in this play-off.

“You never know how a play-off is going to go. I think that might be my first play-off ever so it’s nice to have a 1-0 record on that.”

The question raised, and per the heading of this story, will the Scot be tempted to revist Houghton Golf course to relive the memories or will he wait to next March and his defence of the title.

Of course, do we know the 2026 host venue even though Houghton has now hosted three Joburg Open’s in succession.

Maybe those running Houghton may extend a private invitation to him to revisit the club that will forever be linked to his golfing career.

And being so close, I think Calum may very well reach out to the club,

Joining Hill this week is Scott Jamieson, Daniel Young, David Law, Grant Forrest and Connor Syme

 



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