Kaiyuree doing SA proud
GROWING up as a teenager in South Africa means the possibilities are endless.
No longer are there restrictions on what one could achieve or pursue.
Ambition is something that every youngster has while growing up. Some have the ambition to become doctors or lawyers while others, who are gifted in the sporting arena, wish to one day make a living of the sport that they’re great at.
Following in the footsteps of golf legends Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy is Gauteng’s Kaiyuree Moodley.
Woods participated in his first PGA tour Major, the Masters when he was 19, while McIlroy made his first appearance in a European Tour event a few days after turning 16, when he took part in the 2005 British Masters. Kaiyuree, aged 17, has already represented South Africa at the Youth Olympics in Jakarta in 2017 and recently returned from flying the flag at the Indian Golf Union’s All-India Ladies Amateur Championship.
The Crawford College Lonehill Grade 11 pupil got involved with golf at the age of 4½ and when asked what got her interested in the sport, she replied: “I loved all forms of sport as I grew up and had almost every piece of sporting equipment. I loved hitting my plastic ball with a club from one end of the house to the other. I loved golf and my dad took me for my first lesson when I was 4 ½ and I played my first 9-hole tournament when I was 5 and just loved it.”
Her dad, Perumal Moodley, a former Stanger resident, never played golf until the passion stirred in his daughter. “Kaiyuree loved all ball sports in general and all we did was provide her the opportunity to play golf. Like all other parents we are really proud of both our children and their individual achievements.”
She’s won over 150 tournaments in her fledgling career and managed to represent the nation after playing in the US Kids European Championships in Scotland for five consecutive years, each time finishing in the Top 5 and also winning the 2013 tournament. The movie fan thinks that the stereotype of golf being a male sport is slowly changing. “It’s becoming a more gender equal sport and I see it in all my travels both locally and internationally.”
A view shared by her supportive dad as well. Even though golf demands practice and time on the range, Moodley still enjoys helping her mum cook her favourite meal, chicken curry and also loves playing the drums. Kaiyuree exited at the semi-final at the IGU AllIndia Ladies Amateur Championship last Saturday in Kolkata. She can take great confidence in that she was defeated by top ranked Indian golfer Jahanvi Bakshi. Moodley was disappointed in not making the final, but has her sights set on greater achievements. “Next, I will go to the Annika Invitational in Orlando, Florida in January and will also use this opportunity to visit a few American universities. I have scholarship offers which I am considering. In 2020 I will be playing golf for an American university as that is the next step to turning professional.”
She had some wise words for girls who are eager to try the sport. “Work hard, enjoy the game and enjoy making friends. If you love what you are doing then you are more than half way there.”