Golf Special Report: Retief Goosen- The South African professional golfer (Part 1)
There are only a few lucky people in history who have survived being struck by lightning and perhaps only one who has also gone on to become a world class golf player. Retief Goosen was only 15 when, while was playing golf with his friend -Henry Potgeiter-
at the Pietersburg Golf Club, he was struck by lightning. His clothes had been completely burned off from his body and his underwear and watch band had melted into to his skin. He was taken to the hospital by some other golfers also playing at the same time.
He not only managed to recover, but within a few weeks had taken up to playing golf again.
Retief was born in Pietersburg, South Africa. His father was an amateur golfer and the one who introduced the younger Goosen to the sport. According to Retief, and Theo himself, his father was very strict with his upbringing and even pressurized him into
golf. When his son survived the lightning strike, Theo took it as a sign from God that great things were in store for his son.
Goosen went on to win 30 titles during his amateur career and was awarded with the Springbok colours in recognition. After winning the South African Amateur Championship in 1990, he turned professional. He started playing on South Africa’s Sunshine Tour
were he recorded his first victory in 1991 at the Iscor Newcastle Open. In 1992 he won a further 3 times, bagging the Spoornet, the Highveld and Bushveld Classics. He also won the European Tour’s Qualifying School and thereafter made regular appearances at
the European circuit.
His first victory at the Tour came in 1996. Between 1996 and 2000, he would win at the Tour 3 more times. He was a regular finisher in the top ten and was the runner up 5 times. In 1997, he finished 7th on the Order of Merit list and 5th
in 1999. In both 1997 and 1998 Retief and fellow South Africans, Ernie Els and David Frost, won the Alfred Dunhill Cup. By 2000, Retief had also started making headways in the American PGA Tour.
2001 was arguably one of the greatest years in Goosen’s life. He married his long time girlfriend Tracy Pottick. Tracy, along with Goosen’s mental coach Jos Vanstiphout, were instrumental in eliminating some of the negative thoughts Retief had about himself
and his game; the results of which were clearly visible on the golf course.
Only two months after his marriage, Retief won his first major tournament: The U.S Open. In a dramatic showdown between Goosen and ’96 PGA Champion Mark Brooks, Goosen missed a putt and a chance at a clear victory on the last day forcing the match into playoff.
He still managed to hold off Brooks by two strokes on the 18 hole playoff to clinch his first victory on U.S soil and $900,000 in winnings. At this time, he was only the 5th foreign player to win the U.S Open since World War 2. The win was a turning
point in his career and it was only afterwards that his ability came to be widely recognized.
In the same year, he would go on to win twice more on the European Tour and also win the World Cup of Golf for South Africa with his compatriot, Ernie Els. He concluded the outstanding year by winning the Harry Vardon Trophy for finishing top on the European
Order of Merit list. He also moved in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings. He would stay in the top 10 for a whopping 250 weeks between 2001 and 2010.
After his Open success, there was no looking back for Goosen. 2002 saw an increased activity on the US PGA Tour where he won the BellSouth Classic and finished runner up in the Masters and the WGC-American Express Championship. Despite his major focus being
the U.S circuit he again topped the European Order of Merit list to win the Henry Vardon trophy a second time.
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