This week I’m in the Cape for the next Sunshine Tour event.
The Vodacom Origins at Arabella. I’ll admit that I’ve never really been the biggest fan of Cape Town, but I think that’s because every time I come down here it seems to coincide with bad weather.
I love the Arabella course, it’s a great test, but when in wind and rain, it can be really tough. Having said that, I’m quite used to coastal golf, so if we do get some weather this week, I’m confident that I can hold my own.
I love the holes at the end of the front nine, there’s a tricky par three, followed by the par-five 8 th that plays down into the estuary and has to be one of the best holes in the country. The 9 th is a driveable par four that I just love – and I always have a go at it.
The way the Origins events work these days is that we play two rounds of the Pro-Am and then the tournament itself starts. Some pros don’t enjoy them, but I like the pro-ams because not only do you get to meet and play with some interesting people, but you also get two practice rounds on the course. The sponsors and amateurs play a big part in making sure we have events to play, so I feel like it is important to give back to them.
Brandon Stone and his dad Kevin are teeing it up this week. It was great to meet Brandon at the pro-am this week and obviously he is someone that I look up to for the career he has had. It was also great to see Kevin again – he was my All-Africa coach when I was a junior and he’s such a great guy.
My game is in good shape. I spent a week at the family farm in Limpopo, where I’m lucky enough to be able to play golf and practice every day. I feel like I am mentally and physically rested and raring to go. I’m also playing solid golf at the moment, with ball feeling like it’s coming off the clubface nicely.
Much like any other event then, it comes down to how well the putter performs during the week, so I’m holding thumbs that I sink some putts.
