LIV Golf team Stinger GC surprised fans this week after teasing a major new signing — only to reveal it wasn’t a player at all.
A day after Europe’s Ryder Cup victory on October 1, the team’s social media account sparked excitement with the post, “Who could it be?” Fans quickly flooded the comments, speculating that Stinger GC — captained by Louis Oosthuizen— was about to welcome another top South African golfer to its roster.
Names like Erik van Rooyen, Shaun Norris, and Thriston Lawrence were widely mentioned as potential signings.
However, 24 hours later, the team ended the suspense by announcing that the “new signing” was actually South African rugby legend Brian Habana, who joins Stinger GC as a team ambassador.
“Our new signing, Bryan Habana, as Stinger GC ambassador 🏆,” the team wrote on X (formerly Twitter), alongside a photo of the rugby star.
While some fans were thrilled by the addition of a national sporting icon, others admitted they were disappointed it wasn’t a player announcement.
Habana, 42, is one of the most celebrated figures in rugby union history. A former winger, he was instrumental in South Africa’s 2007 Rugby World Cup triumph in France, where he scored eight tries — matching Jonah Lomu’s record for a single tournament. Habana also equaled Lomu’s all-time World Cup try record (15) and remains second on the list of most career test tries with 67.
The signing marks another high-profile addition for Stinger GC, which is captained by Louis Oosthuizen and features Charl Schwartzel, Dean Burmester, and Branden Grace.
Stinger GC enjoyed a strong 2025 season, winning the Chicago event and finishing third at the season-ending Team Championship — their best finish since LIV Golf launched in 2022.
The 2026 LIV Golf League season will kick off under the lights in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from February 5–7, before heading to Johannesburg, South Africa, in March for the country’s first-ever LIV Golf event at Steyn City. LIV Golf has signed a multi-year deal to bring the series to South Africa.
