First Tshwane, then Japan
SHAUN Norris may have to learn a little Japanese now that’s he won another golf tournament in Asia.
The point is, after his sensational 61 in round three of the Myanmar Open over the weekend, which led to a fourstroke victory on 24-under-par 264, he is now exempt on the lucrative Japanese Tour and will be heading out East in April.
There are no South African golfers plying their trade in Japan, which will make Norris something of a pioneer out there, but he is looking forward to it.
“I’ve only heard good things about it,” he said at Pretoria Country Club yesterday, before the start of the R18.5 million Tshwane Open tomorrow.
“A lot of people say the courses they play on are phenomenal, and you get great perks for winning out there and finishing high on the Order of Merit – you know, getting into the WGC events and even the Majors, so we’ll take it on. I’m going to have to try and sharpen up on my Japanese and things like that, and eat a little bit more sushi!”
Norris tees off tomorrow in a Tshwane Open featuring some big names – like Charl Schwartzel and defending champion George Coetzee, as well as young newcomers to the winners’ circle in SA Open champion Brandon Stone and Joburg Open champion Haydn Porteous.
The powerfully built Silver Lakes professional, who won the Yeangder Tournament Players Championship in Taiwan late last year, is also fully exempt for the Asian Tour, and of course the Sunshine Tour, so he is looking forward to a jam-packed season.
“The wins in Asia have proved to me the game is there, and it definitely gives me confidence for the year ahead, and naturally this week here at Pretoria Country Club where the course is looking fantastic.”
Norris actually missed the cut in both the SA Open and Joburg Open after poor second rounds, but headed to Asia with a new mindset that paid dividends.
“I had been putting too much pressure on myself to do well, but I said to my caddie (Raymond Sehloho) in Myanmar that I’m hitting it well and putting well, so let’s forget about all the pressure and just have fun – let’s literally make a joke out of it. It certainly seemed to work as we were smiling and joking and talking a lot of crap on our way to 61 and a four-stroke victory.”
Being paid in dollars in Myanmar’s richest sporting event certainly made his wife happy.
“The missus wants to move to a new house, so this will help,” said.
There is a pro-am at Pretoria Country Club today, with Porteous off at 11am on the first tee in the company of Sunshine Tour executive director Selwyn Nathan, Jason Ngobeni and Sam Hackner, and Coetzee starts his round at the same time on No 10 alongside Premier Makhura, Mayor Parks Tau and Mayor Nawa.
The first-place cheque this week is worth a hefty R2.9 million, the runner-up gets R2.1 million and third place earns a shade under R1.3 million, so there’s plenty to play for.
The course is in immaculate condition, and with a number of short par-fours and smooth greens, there should be plenty of birdies.