Hennie Otto eyes another victory at the SA Open Championship
Hennie Otto has set his sights on joining the league of the South Africans who have won the SA Open Championship multiple times during their careers. He tees off this week at the Serengeti Golf & Wildlife Estate.
Gary Player currently leads the winners list by 13 victories registered to his name. Bobby Locke follows him with nine victories and Ernie Els has managed five titles to date.
Last year, Otto held off Bernd Wiesberger to take home the prestigious trophy for the first time in his career. This week, he plans to retain the trophy on his shelf, with a strong performance in Ekurhuleni, South Africa.
“Look at the names on that trophy,” said the two-time winner on the European Tour. “You can talk about those names forever. The history that’s on that trophy, it’s unbelievable. Now your name is engraved on there, and nobody can take that away from you”.
Last year, the 36-year-old moved to the 18th green following his victory, and had his photograph taken with the trophy and his family.
For some, it might seem a usual display by any player after winning a professional event. For Otto, it meant something more than that.
Right after he received the picture on his laptop, he used that as his screensaver. On top of that, he has not removed it since then.
This year, the SA Open Championship has reeled in some prominent names, including the likes of Ryder Cup hero Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson, the 2011 Masters champion Charl Schwartzel and the four-time European Tour winner this season, Branden Grace.
Therefore, Otto will have to work really hard, in order to have another picture taken with the trophy this week.
The South African’s 2012 campaign has not been able to live up to the summit of 2011. However, his 95th position in the European Tour’s money list allowed him to secure his full-time playing card for the 2013 season.
Even if he misses the cut this week, he looks safe in maintaining his position among the top-119 in the list, who will be allowed to retain their cards for the upcoming year.
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