Staff WriterDaniel van Tonder is back—and not just for the haggis and hospitality. The burly South African tees it up this week at the Farmfoods Scottish Challenge supported by The R&A, marking his first start on the HotelPlanner Tour since February. And if you thought he’d been sitting on the beach sipping Rooibos, think again.
Van Tonder, who charged out of the gates earlier this season with back-to-back wins at the SDC Open and MyGolfLife Open on home turf, spent the past six months dismantling leaderboards on the Sunshine Tour.
With four wins in 2025 and a shiny Order of Merit title under his belt, the 34-year-old arrives at SCHLOSS Roxburghe ranked sixth on the Road to Mallorca.
Not bad for a guy who admits, “I think I missed 14 events, so I am quite happy not to be too far down the Rankings.”
That kind of understatement is classic Van Tonder—more action than adjectives. But make no mistake, he’s here with a purpose: reclaim the top spot, bag a third HotelPlanner Tour win of the year, and punch an express ticket back to the DP World Tour.
“I’m so happy to be playing these tournaments again,” he said. “I’ve been looking forward to this as it’s the first one of six in a row. I like playing a lot, but I think I’ve previously drained myself a little bit when playing 14 or 15 in a row.”
There’s something admirable—if not a little masochistic—about a man who calls six straight events a “manageable” stretch. But Van Tonder isn’t just clocking air miles.
He’s played in two Major Championships this season—The 153rd Open and USPGA Championship at Quail Hollow—and while he didn’t make the weekend in either, the experience wasn’t lost on him.
“I enjoyed my experience playing the Major Championships this year, it was great,” he said. “It would’ve been nice if I’d played a bit better but it’s always hard to play well when you search for things that work.
I feel like it was a good experience playing with the big names. Last week I played with Phil Mickelson which was unbelievable. He’s 55 and he’s still got the game.”
Van Tonder’s game might not be as mysterious as Lefty’s calves, but it’s equally powerful when dialled in. And this week, at the scenic-yet-sneaky SCHLOSS Roxburghe—making its Road to Mallorca debut—he’s feeling optimistic.
“The course is great,” he said. “It’s narrow and a bit tricky but I am still looking forward to playing here. I think it suits me well. I am going to try and limit mistakes and lift a trophy at the end of the week.”
That would be lucky number seven for the season across both the HotelPlanner and Sunshine Tours—a stat that would make even Joshua Berry, the current No. 1, raise an eyebrow.
Van Tonder won’t have it all his way, though. The field is loaded with experience and ambition—DP World Tour winners Eddie Pepperell, James Morrison and David Law are all chasing the same prize, along with the aforementioned Berry, who’s been steadier than a Scot’s grip on a single malt.
Van Tonder gets underway Thursday at 1:30 pm, alongside Swede Per Längfors and home favourite Craig Howie.
If the putter heats up and the rough stays polite, don’t be surprised if the South African walks away with another trophy—and maybe a new tartan to go with it.
