▁the ▁Sun sh ine ▁Tour ) ▁and ▁also ▁played ▁on ▁the ▁European ▁Tour ▁starting ▁in ▁ 1 9 7 8 . ▁His ▁first ▁professional ▁win ▁was ▁the ▁ 1 9 7 9 ▁Hol iday ▁In ns ▁Royal ▁Sw azi ▁Sun ▁Open ▁in ▁South ▁Africa . ▁By ▁ 1 9 8 6 ▁he ▁was ▁a ▁dominant ▁player ▁on ▁the ▁Southern ▁African ▁Tour , ▁pick ing ▁up ▁seven ▁official ▁wins ▁in ▁that ▁year ▁and ▁also ▁winning ▁South ▁Africa ' s ▁most ▁luc r ative ▁event , ▁the ▁Mill ion ▁D ollar ▁Challenge . ▁In ▁the ▁same ▁year ▁he ▁finished ▁in ▁the ▁top ▁ten ▁on ▁the ▁European ▁Tour ' s ▁Order ▁of ▁Mer it ▁for ▁the ▁first ▁time , ▁placing ▁sixth . ▁He ▁had ▁six ▁top ▁ten ▁European ▁Order ▁of ▁Mer it ▁finish es ▁in ▁total , ▁including ▁second ▁places ▁in ▁ 1 9 8 7 ▁and ▁ 1 9 9 0 . ▁The ▁last ▁of ▁these ▁was ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 6 , ▁when ▁he ▁came ▁fifth . ▁His ▁win ▁t ally ▁on ▁the ▁European ▁Tour ▁was ▁six teen , ▁including ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁Vol vo ▁Masters , ▁which ▁was ▁the ▁European ▁equivalent ▁of ▁the ▁P GA ▁Tour ' s ▁Tour ▁Championship . ▁He ▁won ▁the ▁Sun sh ine ▁Tour ▁Order ▁of ▁Mer it ▁nine ▁times : ▁ 1 9 8 0 / 8 1 , ▁ 1 9 8 1 / 8 2 , ▁ 1 9 8 4 / 8 5 , ▁ 1 9 8 5 / 8