Dylan Frittelli has taken up the option to play in the Indonesian Masters this week as he chases a place inside the world’s top 50, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Frittelli, who won the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open two weeks ago, was expected to challenge at the Joburg Open following Louis Oosthuizen’s late withdrawal but finished T43 with only one round in the 60s at Randpark.
‘I played well and was happy with my game but I struggled a bit with my putter,’ Frittelli told Compleat Golfer.
‘I was always being the eight ball and couldn’t really get myself into a position to catch up with the leaders.’
The 27-year-old has stormed up the world rankings and will continue his busy year with a trip to the last event of the year on the Asian Tour. Frittelli will resume his rivalry with the field’s top-ranked player Justin Rose, who edged him for the Turkish Airlines Open before the duo resumed their battle at the DP World Tour Championship a few weeks later.
‘I’m still in good form and I’ve got enough left him in for one more good week before taking a break. I’m really looking forward to getting to Jakarta, it’s going to be a good event with a really strong field. It’s going to be hot and humid, so managing the body will be key to a strong performance,’ he said.
The Englishman is not the only high profile name in the field with American Brandt Snedeker, Satoshi Kodaira (Japan) and European Tour star Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) all ready to end the year in style.
‘It is a slightly stronger field than in Joburg, so I know I will have to play well and be at my best from the start.’
For Frittelli, the equation is simple: finish in solo 10th or better to secure a place in the world’s top 50 and with it the ultimate prize, a place in The Masters.
Now South Africa’s fourth best player, Frittelli started the year in 152nd place but has found his place in the upper echelon of European Tour golf after losing in a playoff at the PGA Championship in the sixth week of the year. Two top 5 finishes in China followed before his breakthrough win in Austria at the Lyoness Open. That win spurred him on to two more top 5 finishes (Turkey and Dubai) before his second win of the season in Mauritius.
One more solid week will see him join Louis Oosthuizen, Charl Schwartzel and Branden Grace at Augusta National.
Photo: File
