SA rugby legend Victor Matfield believes golf is perhaps the country’s only other sport that consistently matches the Springboks in terms of success on the international stage and depth in talent, while fellow Bok Akona Ndungane is equally impressed with the country’s young golf stars.
Matfield and Ndungane, both passionate golfers, are no stranger to the Sunshine Tour’s brightest young stars as they regularly play in the pro-ams on the Tour. This week they’re competing in the Vodacom Origins of Golf Final at the Oubaai Golf Estate, and both are impressed with the talent they’re seeing on the Tour.
“I think the two sports in South Africa that stand out in terms of making a big international impact are rugby and golf,” said Matfield. “If you think of the golfers this country has produced, it’s unbelievable. And we can’t wait for the new generation to come through.”
While the Springboks have claimed a record fourth Rugby World Cup title, the country’s professional golfers can boast a collective 22 Major championship victories which places South Africa fourth on the all-time list of Major wins.
Matfield said he sees the Sunshine Tour’s ability to create a global pathway for its players to progress to the highest level as being similar to the country’s strong rugby’s structures.
“When Rassie [Erasmus] started allowing the players to go overseas, we were all worried about the Currie Cup and the Vodacom United Rugby Championship. But it actually turned out well for us because we have so much talent here.
“I think it’s the same with golf. We have so much talent in this country, and tournaments like this Vodacom Origins of Golf series are so important in terms of giving these young players opportunities.
“The more opportunities they get here, the quicker they’ll get to that stage where they can compete at a higher level. I can’t wait to see these young stars here break onto the DP World Tour and PGA Tour, and ultimately start winning Majors.”
It’s a sentiment shared by Ndungane.
“It’s incredible to see the golf talent coming through. I had the privilege of speaking to the Sunshine Tour commissioner, Thomas Abt, this week. The motto of the Sunshine Tour is ‘Greatness Begins Here’, and the beauty of that is that these young golfers have role models that they can look up to in the great South African golfers that came before them.
“Last weekend, young Sunshine Tour star Robin Williams played 36 holes with Gary Player. Imagine what that kind of time with a legend does for Robin.”
Looking ahead to this weekend’s Springbok Test against England, both Matfield and Ndungane have backed the Boks.
“The Springboks are just unbelievable at the moment,” said Matfield. “I don’t think they had their best game against Scotland last weekend, but they still beat one of the best Scotland teams by 17 points and without fielding their best team. That shows the class of the team at the moment. I think this weekend we’ll see a Springbok team that’s up for it, and I think England’s in trouble.”
“They’ll be coming up against a wounded England team which is hurting. It’s going to be a tough game, but I think the Springboks have enough in the tank to pull it off,” added Ndungane.
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