Wallie wants to go one better this year

WALLIE Coetsee earned the biggest pay cheque of his career as one of five runners-up at the Joburg Open a year ago. Now he wants to go one better and bag the big one.

The colourful Coetsee – who lives in Jeffery’s Bay and doesn’t have a television in the house, nor does his 13-year-old daughter have a cellphone – was in imperious form at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club in late February 2015, shooting 66 and 65 in the first two rounds, and backing that up with a 70 on the Saturday.

He took a two-shot lead into the final round on Sunday, but a 71 meant he had to settle for tied second with among others countryman Jaco van Zyl. England’s Andy Sullivan, with a final round 66, won by two shots.

But despite battling to a tied 55th place at last week’s SA Open at Glendower, Coetsee is confident of another good showing this week, at a venue he says he can’t get enough of.

“I’ve been waiting a whole year for this. I can’t wait for the first round. I’m peaking at the right moment,” he enthused yesterday ahead of today’s opening round.

“I could feel the aura as I walked in here this week. I love this course, it suits my eye and it suits my game, every shot. Can I repeat what I did here last year? Absolutely.

“I still have to pinch myself and think, ‘Did I come second last year?’ So I hope – and I believe I can – I can take that No 1 spot this year. That’s the goal.

“I’m not even thinking of just making the cut. I believe I can take that No 1 spot and prove to myself I can win this one.”

Accurate tee shots would be key this week, according to the 43-yearold, something he said suited him perfectly.

“I’m putting well, I’m hitting my long irons really well, and last year I was No 1 on the Sunshine Tour for driving accuracy by about seven percent. I think I got it to about 84.5 percent for fairways hit. So I’m a very straight hitter of the ball and I think that’s the biggest key to this course.

“I’ve practised hard and am hitting the ball nicely. It’s a great course and it’s in great condition. It’s softer than before which makes it longer, but the greens are rolling beautifully.”

After finishing ninth on the order of merit in 2015, Coetsee is confident of adding to his two wins on tour during the course of this season. “I want to win at least three tournaments this year. I don’t know where and when, but I’ll win three,” he said confidently.

Coetsee will start on the West Course at RJK today, at 8.25am, with the USA’s Paul Peterson and Justin Harding of Stellenbosch alongside him.