Can Charl find his mojo at SA Open?
CHARL Schwartzel’s confidence has taken a knock after two tough years on tour, but he says that could be rectified if he were to be victorious at the 2016 SA Open.
The 2011 US Masters champion was speaking yesterday at the announcement of BMW as new title sponsor of the European co-sanctioned tournament at the Glendower Golf Club in Johannesburg from January 7-10.
“’I ve made big steps [in terms of] improvement, huge steps. Some parts of the long game are better than they ’ ve ever been.
“[ But] there ’ s a factor of having two years where you ’ re not playing well that breaks your confidence,” Schwartzel replied when asked what a win at the SA Open might do for him.
“So the biggest win for me would be to build confidence back up because the physical part of the game is in very good shape, but there are a lot of factors in this game to play well.
“You need to be very confident, but that ’ s also taking steps. Winning tournaments like this sets you up, boosts your confidence.”
The SA Open has been won by almost all of SA ’ s greats, with Schwartzel being one of the rare exceptions, though he has come close.
At the past two editions he has blown leads in the final round.
Schwartzel lost to Englishman Andy Sullivan in a playoff for the 2015 crown after squandering a five-shot lead going into the final round.
The previous time he was three strokes up at one stage before imploding.
He would have every reason to hate the tight Edenvale layout, but Schwartzel likes it.
“’I m excited to come back. It ’ s a golf course that ’ s actually treated me well. Two years in a row I ’ ve had chances to win, good chances, but there are a lot of good players out there and I haven ’ t finished it off well,” said Schwartzel, ranked 54th in the world.
Apart from the four majors next year, 2016 will see golf return to the Olympic menu for the first time since 1904, but Schwartzel said it wasn ’ t high on his radar.
The two highest-ranked South Africans will have first dibs to compete at the Rio Games. Schwartzel is third behind Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace.