DRIVEN Musiwalo Nethunzwi is hoping for his best finish at the Joburg Open at Houghton Golf Club this week. Picture: Sunshine Tour
Image: Sunshine Tour
There are not many young children from Limpopo who get the chance to see Tiger Woods in the flesh, and for Musiwalo Nethunzwi, this once-in-a-lifetime encounter proved to be the catalyst in his journey to becoming a professional golfer.
As 35-year-old Nethunzwi aims to make the cut for the first time at the Joburg Open, he took time to remember where his love for the game first started.
Back in 2003, a 14-year-old Nethunzwi received an invite to watch the Presidents Cup at the Links at Fancourt. Though it was a little over a year after he picked up a club for the first time, he was already a player on the radar of the SA Golf Development Board.
A big Tiger Woods fan, Nethunzwi revealed how he had mixed feelings during one of the formative moments in his golf career.
“I watched Tiger. That was the first time I saw Tiger. I watched Vijay [Singh]. I was angry when Vijay beat Tiger. But I was also happy because he's international and beat the USA,” Nethunzwi told IOL Sport in an exclusive interview.
A campaigner chiefly on the local Sunshine Tour, a top performance at the Joburg Open, the event co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour (DPWT), could be life-changing for Nethunzwi.
“I'm just looking forward to the tournament. [I have] a bit of a history at the Joburg Open. I started playing Joburg Open when I was still an amateur.
“Throughout the years that I played Joburg Open, I've always been improving and improving. The last two seasons, I missed the cut by one. Hopefully, this year things can change and I can finish higher.”
Nethunzwi revealed how Dylan Naidoo’s victory in the SA Open was inspirational for players of colour in South Africa.
“Keenan Davidse played well at the Alfred Dunhill. Yurav Premlal in Sishen. Dylan Naidoo finished well (2nd) at Mauritius. And this year he won the SA Open.
“Dylan gives a lot of players of colour motivation. If he can do it, we can also do it. Honestly, we're all on that level. I was happy for him. He did well. For his team as well. That's a motivation to all players of colour.”
Golf in South Africa, however, still remains a white elitist sport. Nethunzwi said simply getting more youngsters involved was the key.
“We just need to give more opportunities to young black players. When you see potential, give them an opportunity. Even if they fail, you've given them an opportunity. And not fail because there's no opportunity.
“The transformation in cricket is getting better. Springboks are getting better. Golf is getting better. We just need to give all the potential and opportunity.”
Nethunzwi’s best finish on the DPWT was his 46th place at the Jonsson Workwear Open down the road at Glendower Golf Club a year ago, but that has not stopped him from aiming high at the Joburg Open.
“The goal is to play on the highest level. To play the majors. And this week at the Joburg Open, if you win, you've got an opportunity to go and play. You get your DP World Tour card. So there are a lot of opportunities this week.
“But my long-term goal … If I can win at least a few tournaments on the Sunshine Tour.
“But I want to play on the PGA Tour. The highest level in this game. I want to play with the best players in the world.”
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