Clever pairings in golf pro-am
Grant Winter
– Talking in terms of South African currency, there is a small fortune to be made, the equivalent of R11-million, for the winner of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, beginning today over the Old Course at St Andrews.
This European Tour event features a pro-am running alongside the main tournament and, for 26 professional South African golfers, it offers a unique opportunity to partner with some of the big names in the entertainment and business world for four days of superb links golf.
Haydn Porteous, for instance, loves his music and to have renowned Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres as his partner in a fourball that also includes legendary Huey Lewis of The Power of Love fame well, it’s going to be a blast.
Talking about big names, big is the operative word with respect, to the players in Jaco van Zyl’s group. He partners genial giant Schalk Burger sen, the former Springbok lock with hands the size of baseball mitts, and former world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko is also in the fourball. Apart from packing a killer punch, the Ukranian is passionate about his golf and a keen chess player.
Brandon Stone, hoping to “make mine a double!” after his Scottish Open triumph in July, has American art dealer Alex Acquavella as his partner, with the group being completed by Padraig Harrington and JP McManus, one of Ireland’s richest men.
Ernie Els is with his dad, Neels; Branden Grace partners tournament boss and Richemont chairman Johann Rupert, with Tommy Fleetwood also in their group, while Louis Oosthuizen (above) has Sunshine Tour Commissioner Selwyn Nathan as his partner.
Trevor Immelman and Dean Burmester also play with actors – As Good As It Gets Oscar nominee Greg Kinnear and Matthew Goode respectively.
George Coetzee is with former Springbok Rob Louw who, being a keen surfer, was smiling when the draw was made because his own sporting hero Kelly Slater is the other amateur in the fourball.
Slater, 11-times world surfing champion, is also a mean golfer. He’s playing off an adjusted two handicap this week and has been known to break 70 on his day.
Jacques Kallis is the celebrity everyone believes is the hottest amateur golfer in the pro-am. He plays off an adjusted scratch handicap here in Scotland.
St Andrews