I’d like to think that Charl Schwartzel’s amazing start to 2010 had something to do with him playing with me in the pro-am at Leopard Creek just before Christmas. Well, that’s what I’d like to think. The truth may be somewhat different.
What is beyond doubt is that not only did Charl win the first two events of the new year, but that ISM colleagues filled the runner-up spot on each occasion – the first time we have started a new chapter with a brace of 1-2’s.
Well done Thomas Aiken, a first European Tour win and top 50 world ranking beckons, and Darren Clarke, heading towards another win soon, for pushing Charl towards the best golf of his career.
It is also a matter of fact that I encouraged Darren to have a word with Charl at the start of the year to find out where the young South African was in his life and where he was going with his career. Darren handed on some of his experience and Charl acknowledged that what he had heard and been told had had an impact on him. I know Darren well enough to say that even had he known that Charl would use some of what he had been told to beat him in the Joburg Open, he’d still have passed on the information anyway.
I am also convinced that the six weeks Darren took off at the end of last year has totally revitalised him. After working on his game and fitness, I was sure he was going to play well, not least because he is in a happier place than he has been for a long time. He had a frustrating week in East London at the Africa Open where he was five over par for the last hole, but he managed to put it right in Johannesburg where he eagled the 72nd hole to finish second.
Darren also won other friends and influenced people on his two-week trip to South Africa. He not only gave well-received clinics but also donated money from his foundation to help further children’s golf.
Special mention this week to Holland's Joost Luiten, whose sixth place finish in Johannesburg ensured that he kept a card which would have been lost . He won the last of the required 150,000E necessary with just one tournament of the 10 he was playing on an injury exemption.
On the cricket front, Freddie Flintoff got some welcome good news after an exploratory op on his troublesome knee showed he should be fit and ready to go fairly soon.
And Michael Vaughan had every reason to smile after receiving plenty of plaudits for his contribution to the BBC’s Test Match Special team in South Africa. A successful career in broadcasting surely awaits.
