Iqbal Khan

WINNING the DimensionData Pro-Am at Fancourt in George was no doubt something to savour for George Coetzee.

But the fact that it earned him a spot at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, that boasts a top int e r nat i o n a l field, is so much sweeter for the Pretoria Country Club professional who has established himself as one of the rising stars on not only the Sunshine Tour, but also the European Tour.

The Bridgestone Invitational will be played at the Firestone Country Club from June 29 to July 3, because of golf ’s return to the Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro. Traditionally it is played in August, but with the men’s Olympics competition from August 11 to 14, the 2016 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational’s date has been moved.

And to cap a wonderful week, Coetzee won the Sunshine Tour’s Order of Merit at an awards evening this week.

Coetzee, had been plagued by injuries in the last year, but worked hard to get back into rhythm since becoming injuryfree a few months ago.

Now he seems to have got his game together, his swing is at its best and his short game looks to be at its best.

He will need it as he is exempted from the European Tour for at least two years after his wins at the Tshwane Open and the Mauritius Open last year. In 2014, Coetzee also won the Johannesburg Open.

Meanwhile, at the Tour’s awards evening, Dean Burmester proved to be the star as he walked away with the Gary Player Stroke Averages