Relaxed Fisher ready to reel in a ‘big one’
TREVOR Fisher has won eight times as a professional, but never in a European Tour event like the Africa Open, which he leads by two going into today’s final round following a brilliant, nineunder-par 63 at windswept East London Golf Club yesterday.
“When I saw it was blowing again I figured three or four under would be good today,” said the 34-year-old.
“So to shoot nine under was a surprise. But I really hit the ball well and sank some crucial putts – a long one for eagle (at the par-3 fifth hole) and a massive one (probably 60 feet) for a birdie at the par-4 13th.
“You know, it’s not often that everything just flows in a difficult game like golf, and when it does you just take it and say ‘ thank you’,” said Fisher, who toured the par-36 inward loop in just 30 shots yesterday en-route to a bogeyfree return which included seven birdies and the eagle.
He leads on 16-under-par 200 through 54 holes, with overnight leader Matt Ford of England posting a 69 for 202 to be lying second, and Jaco van Zyl (68) third all on his own on 204.
“My goal this year is to get a European Tour card,” said Fisher. “I’ve been to Q-School a few times to try and get my playing privileges, but the pressure there’s just so great. The alternative is getting a card through doing well in events like this, and I did well in the Alfred Dunhill Championship (tied fourth) and the SA Open (tied 15th), so that helps.
“I decided at the beginning of this week just to enjoy my golf. I mean, I’m lucky to be out here doing what I love.
“Golf isn’t everything, so I’m just trying to relax and it seems to be working, although it was really energy-sapping out there trying to keep concentrating in the wind,” added Fisher as he collapsed on a couch in the media interview room.
Difficult
He played the last three holes particularly well yesterday. The 16th is a short par-4 where you either play it safe and lay up with an iron, or risk a big drive in the hope of reaching the green.
“I decided to have a dip with my driver, and found a greenside bunker. It was a really difficult sand shot, but it came out perfect and I was able to make my birdie.”
And at the treacherous par-4 18th, into the teeth of the north-easter, his pinpoint approach finished about six feet from the cup, and he curled in the putt for another birdie.
Ford was, well, like a Ford Mustang the first two days – racing to a 66 and a 67. Yesterday he again made a fast start and was three-under through seven. But perhaps you could say he resembled an old, clapped out Ford Escort at the par-4 eighth hole, where he ran up a double-bogey six.
And he needed a touch of “Ford Focus’ at the par-4 14th hole, but lost concentration and three-putted for bogey. But overall, an excellent effort and – like Fisher and Van Zyl, he will be trying for a maiden European Tour victory today.
The Englishman, who is finally on the European Tour after getting his tour card at his 10th visit to the Q-School, did well to hold his round together after the double-bogey.
“Yeah, I hit more good shots than bad ones out there. A lot of emotion, and I feel drained.”
Van Zyl, with nine Sunshine Tour wins and three on the more lucrative summer section, has done exceptionally in the Africa Open before – with two fourths, a fifth and a tied second in the last five years. He was joint second in last week’s Joburg Open, and tied third in the Dimension Data Pro-Am before that.
“So I’m pleased how things are going, especially since this is only my fifth tournament back after last year,” said Van Zyl, who in 2014 had delicate knee surgery which had him sidelined from golf for 10 frustrating months.
The 36-year-old, who plays out of Dainfern and eagled the par-5 third hole yesterday where – downwind – he hit driver, eight-iron to three feet and rolled in the putt.