Whitelaw predicts risks and rewards at 103rd SA Open
The South African Open has the propensity to catapult a journeyman to stardom, and not many golfers know that feeling better than 1992/93 champion Clinton Whitelaw, who won at Glendower Golf Club, the venue for this year’s tournament.
Whitelaw was just 22 years old when he saw off the likes of Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Wayne Westner, James Kingston, David Frost and Mark McNulty to win the SA Open.
He followed it up by campaigning on the European Tour and winning the Moroccan Open, but recurring injuries continuously derailed his career. Whitelaw is currently sitting out with herniated discs in his back, earning his keep by coaching in the US.
“Winning the SA Open at the time did not seem like that big of a deal as I was only 22 years old, but as I’ve grown older and realised how prestigious the event is, I do appreciate my accomplishment that week even more,” Whitelaw says.
“Even today, some 20 years later, when you tell people that you are a former SA Open champion, it definitely gains the respect of most people in the golf world, and is something to be very proud of.”
And the experience of winning such a prestigious title against the odds is something that he can impart to the golfers he is coaching, especially the youngsters.
“At the moment I am living in Sarasota, Florida, and I have a number of good students, mostly teenagers that play in American Junior Golf Association events,” he says.
“I love working with the 14 to 19 years olds, as they can go from nothing to super-hot very quickly and they are always eager to learn.”
Playing an SA Open at Glendower, which just happened to be Whitelaw’s home club at the time of his victory, is not going to be the easiest of tasks though for this year’s hopefuls, especially if the South African Golf Association sets up the course as they did in 1993.
“My memories of the tournament are of the treacherous rough that was at least 8-10 inches thick, combined with very narrow fairways and hard greens,” he remembers.
“It made scoring low extremely difficult. In fact, on the last day I was tied for the lead and, if my memory serves me correctly, I shot a 72 and won by two strokes!
“That’s an indication of how tough the course can play when it is set up for Open conditions. But there were good memories in that there were so many good players in the field. To come out on top with that type of quality is something that I will never forget. And winning on your home course and where you grow up is a very special feeling indeed. I have been a member at Glendower since the age of 12.”
In order to prosper at Glendower, Whitelaw believes the golfers will have to know when to attack the 76-year-old course, and will have to ensure their placement off the tee is precise.
“It will depend on which tee they use as the first hole,” he explains.
“They usually play the 10th hole for the members as the first. If they do that for the SA Open, you need to attack on that nine, especially over the first six holes. The par-fives at 13 and 15 are reachable, and the 11th and 12th are relatively short par-fours, as well.
“The course becomes more difficult from 16 all the way to number seven. I think that, depending on the set-up, par or one-under through these holes is good going. The eighth and ninth are birdie holes and a fast finish could turn a 70/71 into a 67/68. Shoot four rounds of 69 and I think that could be good enough to contend, depending on the course set-up.”
Whitelaw says people often miss the fact that almost all the fairways at Glendower have either a left-to-right or right-to-left slope in them.
“Taking note of landing your drives on the correct side of the fairways is crucial. It keeps you in play, and can add distance to your tee shots,” he says.
“The key when approaching the greens is to not be greedy, and on most holes if you get the ball in the middle of the green, you should have some very good chances at birdies.”
The Johannesburg-born golfer is unsurprisingly delighted that the SA Open is going back to Glendower for a fourth time; American Fred Wadsworth having won there in 1989 and Fijian Vijay Singh in 1997.
“It’s good to see the SA Open back at Glendower. It is a traditional type of layout and it has some of the most beautiful trees you will find on any golf course. Plus there are only five holes without water, which is also pleasing to the eye. I have not been back for almost two years, so I hope that not much has changed.
“I would expect that the course will be set up as an Open should be. Tight fairways, hard, fast greens and thick rough that penalises the wayward drives. There is never much wind at Glendower so, if the fairways are wide and the rough is short, I think that the scoring will be very low. But I would like to see a single digit under-par win.”
Swedish world number three and defending champion Henrik Stenson will lead the international challenge in the 103rd edition of the SA Open at Glendower alongside 2001 Open champion David Duval, and 2014 European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley, while 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and double US Open winner Retief Goosen will spearhead the local heroes in Edenvale from November 21 to 24.
