Opinion: Top African golfers outside Southern Africa, are they still coming through the ranks?
Where are the top African – not SA – golfers?
By Michael Sherman
JOHANNESBURG, March 26 (ANA) – Southern African golfers like Ernie Els, Gary Player, Nick Price and Retief Goosen have represented the region with aplomb through the years – but when can we expect a player from elsewhere on the continent to emerge as a star on the global stage?
South African Player, 85, is a nine-time major-winner while his compatriot The Big Easy (Els) is a four-time major champion and former world number one. Goosen, a great rival to Els, is also a two-time major winner for South Africa. Nick Price from Zimbabwe, is also a former world number one with three majors to his credit.
There are many more South Africans that have excelled on the world stage, and even more coming through the ranks in a seemingly endless conveyor belt of talent produced by the South African Golf Association (GolfRSA).
In fact, there are 84 Africans in the top 1000 in the world golf rankings. A total of 83 of those are South Africans and one is Zimbabwean – Scott Vincent at number 284.
You have to go down to 1330th in the world before you find an African golfer not from the Southern region – with Morocco’s Othman Raouzi holding that position. There are of course a few more relative unknown names hovering a bit further down – but at this stage none have threatened to make it on the major golf tours.
Golf, though, is a popular sport in many African countries, and in particular Kenya. The last two weeks have even seen the European Tour hold two events in Kenya at Karen Country Club in Nairobi.
Last week’s Magical Kenya Open was won by South African Justin Harding.
The lone Kenyan to make the cut at this week’s Kenya Savannah Classic was David Wakhu who opened the tournament on Tuesday with impressive rounds of five-under 66 and three-under 68, to leave him well-placed at the halfway stage.
A third round three-over 74 ended his title ambitions, but a fine closing two-under 69 ended a great week as he finished in the top-60 for the hometown favourite.
Wakhu, 37, has played 11 European Challenge Tour events without making a single cut.
Having also never made the cut in a European Tour event, it was a week to remember for Wakhu – and perhaps the first small step to future success which is sorely needed in Kenya.
Wakhu said: “It’s a huge achievement for me, on either the Challenge Tour or European Tour. This was a great opportunity for me to play with the top players.
“I’ve learnt a lot and I now have to go back and work on some of the areas of my game. It’s just about handling the pressure. But also I need to work on my swing to improve my balance.
“I’m very happy with my game and pleased with my scores this week. I’m really proud to have represented my country. I even thought at one stage I might win, but if you’re playing at the top level you have to sometimes tip your hat to the better player and just learn from the experience. I’m very proud of myself this week.”- African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman
