On Now
Weekdays 15:00 - 18:00
The Joyride Nico, Nikki, Kayla and JayBee
NEXT: 18:00 - 19:00 OFM Business Hour with Olebogeng
Listen Live Streams

Golf

Van Zyl withdraws from Open and PGA Championship

───   MORGAN PIEK 09:09 Thu, 07 Jul 2016

Van Zyl withdraws from Open and PGA Championship | News Article
Jaco van Zyl - Luke Walker/ Sunshine Tour

The South African golfer, Jaco van Zyl, will not be teeing it up at next week’s Open Championship, or the PGA Championship at the end of the month.


Van Zyl withdrew from the two majors yesterday in order to recharge the batteries after following a busy season on the European Tour.

The 37-year-old golfer rather wants to focus on next month’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, which he describes as a once in a lifetime event.

Van Zyl will be the top South African golfer to go to the summer games following the withdrawal of Branden Grace, Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel.

He is currently ranked 24th for the Olympics and will be joined on the trip to Brazil by the young Brandon Stone who is ranked 31st.

“I was really starting to feel the effects of a very packed schedule at the French Open last week,” Van Zyl explained.

“I have been at it almost non-stop since I returned to golf last January. I’ve had a jam-packed season this year, including a lot of travelling between continents, and then coming home to the added stress of building a house. 

"This definitely wasn’t a decision I took lightly, but something had to give and I decided to forego the Majors in July in favour of the Olympics.

"I expect that there will be a camp that will criticise me for withdrawing from the Majors, but I feel very passionate about golf’s debut at the Olympics. 

"Rory (McIlroy) said in a recent press conference that we play four “Olympics” a year because Major titles are what we play for, but I don’t agree.

“To me, the Olympics is the pinnacle of all sporting events and to have the chance to represent Team South Africa on sports’ biggest stage is an honour I don’t take for granted.

"I need to go to Brazil with the rest of the South African team knowing that I am in peak mental and physical health and that I can give my best over four rounds."

The former world number one, Luke Donald, replaces Van Zyl in the field for the Open Championship which tees off at Royal Troon in Scotland next week Thursday.

The golf tournament at the Olympics will be played between 11 and 14 August.

Morgan Piek/OFM News

@ 2024 OFM - All rights reserved Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | We Use Cookies - OFM is a division of Central Media Group (PTY) LTD.