Watch: Golfer mesmerised by hippo in South African tournament

South African golfer Brandon Stones stops to observe a hippo during the final round of Alfred Dunhill Championship. Photo / Twitter

In the tense final stages of a golf tournament, the professional sportsmen usually don't want any distractions as they chase the best possible round, or even the title.

There was an exception in the Alfred Dunhill Championship for Brandon Stone however, as the South African golfer was mesmerised by a hippo at the Leopard Creek golf course, on the border of the Krueger National Park.

In a video posted by the European Tour on Twitter, Stone is clearly in awe of the huge beast, as he and his caddy stop to watch as it wanders happily into a nearby lake.

Unabashed by the attention, the hippo carries on into the water before submerging itself without a care.

After the hippo waddles its way under the water, Stone is seen pointing out where it had just been, clearly delighted at what he has seen.

Only at @LeopardCreekCC... https://t.co/FKygmTg2IP

— DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) December 4, 2016

No doubt he is proud of his country's fine wildlife, with the first fixture of the new European Tour season taking place in his home nation of South Africa.

He also has reason to be happy in his primary pursuit on the golf course, as he won his second European Tour title by seven shots.

Stone, the world number 107, shot 22 under par across the four day tournament, leaving fellow South Africa Richard Sterne far behind in second place.

Stone, who began 2016 with a win at the BMW SA Open in January, told the European Tour website: 'To get this win before Christmas is obviously great but more importantly it gets me a good start on the Race to Dubai.

'Obviously I finished 50th this year and I want to build on that and this is the perfect stepping stone to do that.'