World Cup Winner Wayne Westner Commits Suicide

The 55-year-old won the 1996 World Cup of Golf for South Africa with Ernie Els

wayne westner
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Westner won the World Cup of Golf with Ernie Els in 1996 as well as two South African Opens

World Cup Winner Wayne Westner Commits Suicide

Professional golfer Wayne Westner has committed suicide after a hostage situation at his home in Pennington, South Africa.

Unconfirmed reports emerged this morning that the hostage situation involved his wife at their home in the KwaZulu-Natal province on South Africa's east coast, just south of Durban.

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Eyewitness News, a South African news outlet, report that the 55-year-old died of a gunshot wound to the right side of his head.

Wayne Westner

Westner with the iconic Dubai Desert Classic trophy in 1993

Westner, who was known for his power, won 14 professional tournaments and reached a high of 40th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

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He won the 1988 and 1991 South African Opens, both at Durban Country Club, and also won the 1996 World Cup of Golf alongside Ernie Els.

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Born in Johannesburg, he won twice on the European Tour, including the 1993 Dubai Desert Classic, and also topped the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit in 1995/96.

His career was cut short after he injured his ankle ligaments in the lead-up to the 1998 Madeira Islands Open - he then went into coaching.

Wayne westner

Westner with Greg Norman and Ernie Els at the 1994 Dubai Desert Classic

He set up the Wayne Westner Golf College in KwaZulu-Natal where he coached aspiring young professionals.

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He worked with some of the world’s top golf coaches, including David Leadbetter, Denis Pugh, Simon Holmes and Bob Torrance.

Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV