DYLAN FRITTELLI
Dylan Frittelli was South Africa’s leading performer in 2017 with two European Tour victories, R30-million in prizemoney, and a final World Ranking of No 54.
SA's leading performer in 2017.
I WAS ASKED
at the trophy presentation of the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open in December if I was glad the year was almost over after playing more than 30 events in 2017. Without hesitation I replied I was disappointed it was ending, because you’ve got to ride good form when you find it. I had reached No 55 on the World Ranking and entered the Indonesian Masters straight away (a fortnight later) in an attempt to break into the top 50 and earn an invitation to the Masters. I came up short, but am excited about setting new goals for 2018. QUALIFYING FOR THE MASTERS
in December would have obviously been ideal in helping plan my schedule for 2018, but I’m still going to place a big emphasis on the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit while playing a full European Tour itinerary. South Africans who have cards on foreign tours will always value both the Order of Merit and SA Open, there is so much history that we want to be a part of. In 20 years time I’d like a young pro to look at our local trophies and say, “Oh, Frittelli won that.” Even though it’s now a smaller event on the European Tour, to me it’s important to play in my national open.
AFTER THE INDIAN OPEN
last March I spent three weeks at my base in Austin, Texas which upon reflection was what really set up my year. I trained in the gym and spent quality time with my coach Chuck Cook (No 3 on Golf Digest’s ranking of the 50 Best Teachers In America). But most importantly my mental outlook improved. Many players don’t enjoy playing in China – it may be the weather, the food or the fans – but I went over there after my break with a positive attitude and finished T-5 at the Shenzhen International and lost in a playoff the next week at the China Open.
THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
advance in my development as a professional in 2017: I subscribed to the 15th Club, a platform created by pros, data experts and software engineers that analyses all my statistics. I literally carry a log book of all my gym sessions, practice routines and performance stats from tournament play. My fitness and strength levels also improved dramatically. Working with golf fitness specialist Garth Milne, we improved my lower body strength and created a diet which would benefit me based on my blood type.
SWITCHING TO A NEW DRIVER
and ball helped increase my average driving distance by over 10 yards. I still have an apparel deal with Nike, but had to seek new hardware when they stopped manufacturing clubs. My sand save percentage also improved after a lesson with Australian Brett Rumford in Abu Dhabi. He’s a genius from the sand.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT
after the year I’ve had there would be new sponsors interested, but nothing has yet happened. I still have deals with existing equipment companies and I’ll have a golf bag sponsor in 2018.
for two reasons. You don’t have to worry about applying sunscreen to your arms
I WEAR SOLAR SLEEVES
– and having it run down to your hands when sweating – and I stand out from the other Nike players as we all wear similar clothing.
ROYAL BIRKDALE WAS MY
first major championship experience and it was incredible. I missed the cut at the Open, without playing badly. I just got a little unlucky with the draw. I stayed for the weekend to continue soaking up the atmosphere. I spent a lot of time with Jordan Spieth while we were college teammates at the University of Texas. I saw him early in the week and knew he was going to perform – I had never seen him so relaxed, normally he’s quite fidgety during a tournament. The way he closed out the championship did not surprise me. His self-belief – particularly with the putter – is phenomenal.
I HAVEN’T HAD MUCH TIME
for off-course activities and interests, but I do want to get back into surfing. I played junior golf with Leslie Edgar (a former Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation member) who is now a tour guide and surfboard shaper. I had him fitted with a TaylorMade driver and he made me a board!
THERE WAS ALSO
sadness during my eventful year. My caddie John Curtis had to take time off when his wife Fran passed away in June. John is a Zimbabwean who played in the Eisenhower Trophy and on the Sunshine Tour before becoming a bagman. On the Sunday I won my maiden European Tour title (Lyoness Open in Austria), Fran Curtis died at home in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. In a strange coincidence,
my grandmother passed away on the Sunday I won my first Euro Challenge Tour title in 2013 – also in Austria.
TRAVELLING ON AN ITALIAN
passport has helped me with all the globe-trotting I have done, and I now have approval for a green card in America. My great-great grandfather arrived in South Africa from Italy in 1902. I did ask the European Tour what my status would be regarding the Ryder Cup, although I probably wouldn’t be too comfortable with that even if I could legitimately qualify. The ruling is that if you represent a team in the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup, you have to stick with your first decision. So if I played on the International Team (representing SA) I couldn’t then play in the Ryder Cup.
I RELISH THE HEAT OF
battle. During my college years I had issues with being too calm and not intense enough out there. I’ve worked on that and the pressure I played under during the climax to the Race to Dubai season (second at Turkish Airlines Open and T-4 at DP World Tour Championship) helped me prepare mentally for the playoff at the Mauritius Open. I was the top-ranked player in the field and Arjun (Atwal) hadn’t won in a while. So I knew I had a psychological advantage – well, I just believed I did!
ERIK VAN ROOYEN
and I are friends from college days when he was at the University of Minnesota, and we kept in touch after turning pro. Like myself, it took Erik a while to find his feet but he kept plugging away and it was kind of cool that I was there for his watershed moment – even though it was at my expense. He stiffed an 8-iron (from 182 metres) on the first playoff hole at the 2017 Eye of Africa PGA Championship to deny myself and Makhetha Mazibuko our first win on the Sunshine Tour. Erik went on to win on the Euro Challenge Tour and earn a European Tour card. We will do some travelling together in 2018 and plan to share a house during the Open Championship at Carnoustie.