Dylan Naidoo Facts: 14 Things To Know About The South African Golfer

Dylan Naidoo took up golf at an early age, where his ability soon became apparent. After winning his first event in a professional tournament while still an amateur, he went on to build a successful career on the Sunshine Tour and Challenge Tour. Learn more about the South African pro here.

Dylan Naidoo Facts

1. Dylan Naidoo was born to parents Nalini and Neil Naidoo on February 21, 1998 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

2. He began playing golf at an early age at around the same time his dad first picked up the game. He told the Sunshine Tour they were “learning golf together.”

3. In sixth grade, he represented South Africa in math at the Science Olympiad.

4. He attended the University of Arkansas for two years, where he studied business.

5. His first win in a professional tournament came in 2016 on the Sunshine Big Easy Tour, when he became the youngest winner on the circuit at the Big Easy Observatory.

6. Naidoo turned professional in 2019.

7. He is a member of the Papwa Sewgolum Class, which is affiliated to the Sunshine Tour and provides golfers of color more support.

8. In 2022, he won his first Sunshine Tour event at the SunBet Challenge Hosted by Sun Sibaya.

9. He matched the lowest score of the 2025 DP World Tour season with a 61 in the second round of the Investec South African Open Championship. Earlier in the season, he finished T2 at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.

10. He loves visiting museums and is a fan of modern art.

11. In 2025, Naidoo won the South African Open Championship at Durban Country Club in a playoff against Laurie Canter. The final round was cancelled due to flooding in the area and the two 54-hole leaders faced off over one extra hole, with Naidoo claiming the biggest title of his career via a birdie.

12. He will make his Major debut at the 2025 Open Championship.

13. Naidoo says his best memory of a professional sporting event was the men's FIFA World Cup quarter-final between Ghana and Uruguay in 2010. The soccer tournament was held in South Africa.

14. The South African pro considers himself "extremely analytical" when it comes to the golf swing.

Dylan Naidoo Bio

Dylan Naidoo Wins

*2025 SA Open Championship reduced to 54 holes due to flooding