Cape Town - Professional golfer Peter Karmis will no longer represent South Africa, but will now play under the Greek flag.
Karmis, born in Springbok in the Northern Cape, is a five-time winner of the Sunshine Tour and also won the Singapore Classic on the Asian Tour in 2010.
The 37-year-old is currently ranked at 235th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Due to his Greek roots, Karmis currently holds dual nationality.
OWGR confirmed to Sport24 that Karmis made an application to represent Greece, which has been approved by the OC and International Golf Federation (IGF).
Karmis, who would've been the 15th-best South African golfer in Monday's latest rankings, has suddenly been elevated to the honour of the highest ranked Greek golfer with their only other ranked player being little-known Alexander Tranacher - at 2 028th.
His switch in nationality also sees him illegible for the Presidents Cup, but he could try to fight for his Ryder Cup spot among Europe's best.
Karmis will be eligible to play in November's 2018 World Cup of Golf in Australia as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, although Greece's participation at both events is uncertain.