All eyes are on Casandra Alexander at the Joburg Ladies Open this week as the Order of Merit leader goes in pursuit of a popular home victory.
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The Johannesburg local has made a hot start to 2026 on the Ladies European Tour (LET) season picking up four top-six finishes, including two runner-ups, to lead the season-long standings.
“It sounds good [to be leading the Order of Merit] but it’s still early days,” Alexander said. “Nothing is set in stone but it’s great to be in such a good position so early in the year. We just need to get a couple more trophies in our hands.
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“I prefer being a chaser but if you’re the one being chased you must be doing something right. It’s the first time being in the Order of Merit leading position, but like I said it’s still early days. Yes it’s good to get a head start, but I’m going to miss a few events due to playing Majors so I’ll need to juggle that. I’ll keep doing my thing and hopefully end up winning the Order of Merit as well as a couple other trophies along the way.”
Alexander tees up as the highest ranked player in the field this week and is excited for her homecoming event – one she won in 2021 when the Joburg Ladies Open was a sole Sunshine Ladies Tour (SLT) tournament.
“It’s always special coming back home,” the World No 41 said. “I have a lot of support out here. It’s just so nice to be home. It’s a little further out from my house this year, but the course is spectacular.
“It’s always nice to have your home event. It always feels like a big event no matter who you are, whether you’re Australian and you’re playing in Australia, or wherever, it always feels special. I’m really happy to be here this week and hopefully the heavens won’t open and we can have a great week.”
Alexander is one of 13 South Africans teeing up at Randpark Golf Club as the LET co-sanctions the tournament with the Sunshine Ladies Tour (SLT) for a fifth time.
She continued: “I know the girls have been speaking great about the clubhouse and all the facilities that we have this week. I’m really happy and looking forward to the week and hosting all the LET players out here.”
The past year has seen Alexander elevate her game to a new level as she became a winner on the LET at the Tipsport Czech Ladies Open before breaking into the world’s top-50 thanks to some highly consistent golf.
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“I’ve been up there a lot which I’m really enjoying,” the big-hitting South African said. “Being in contention every week means you’re in it. I think that’s been really good over the last year and has put me in a great position to do well this year. I think that’s the biggest change as well as refining the team – making sure I have the right people around.
“It’s taken a while for me to get into this position. Not a lot of people know but I’ve been on the LET for five years already. Before, I was just a little fish sitting in the background. I’ve learned the hard the lessons the hard why and now I’m coming up [to the top]. That’s exactly how golf goes and that’s exactly how life goes. I was a nobody on the LET and now I’m a somebody. The goal now is to become a nobody on the LPGA and then a somebody over there.”
