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RISING STAR
PERFECT TIMING
Kyle de Beer is relishing the challenge of pro golf. Clinton van der Berg
If golf is all about timing, it was just as well Kyle de Beer had agreed to chat the day after the Vodacom Origins of Golf – Highland Gate Mpumalanga event.
A tie for third place had come as a welcome boost to the Fortress Rookie of the Year leader and he was in good spirits having nailed his third top-10 finish of the year.
“I loved it,” he says. “I loved the nerves and the pressure.”
It’s something he’s accustomed to.
De Beer grew up being peppered by fastballs in cricket and suffered torn muscles and broken bones playing football.
Fortunately, he was a gifted sportsman. Golf might have its inconveniences, but avoiding cracked ribs is not an occupational hazard.
Which is why he graduated to golf in his late teens. Several junior national championships had come his way, none of them worth writing about, according to De Beer (even though they included the SA Amateur title in 2022), but his dream was to be a professional sportsman. Cricket and football’s loss was thus golf’s gain.
In many ways it was inevitable. He had an idyllic childhood, growing up in scenic Port Elizabeth with a loving family who gave him every opportunity.
FIVE BEST PRO FINISHES
30/08/23 Gary & Vivienne Player Challenge T4th
26/09/23 Blue Label Development Tour T4th
25/10/23 SunBet Challenge ‑ Sun Sibaya T8th
01/08/24 FNB Eswatini Challenge 5th
16/08/24 VOG Highland Gate T3rd
Gallery below
Sport was central to his young life and he particularly remembers times when he would finish up cricket and then head to the local course for a fourball with his dad Dean and his uncles. They were carefree, salad days filled with affection, laughter and gentle nurturing. All the while young Kyle honed his game, with his natural timing and athleticism being nourished with every shot.
Two things accelerated his ambition. He became a member of the Ernie Els Foundation and GolfRSA National Squad, two of the most valuable foundation stones for any aspiring golfer. They offered support, community, friendship and excellence.
“Their influence was massive,” he says from his home at Serengeti Estate, on the Eastern side of Johannesburg. “They made me feel part of something bigger and it was unique in how it encouraged me to want friends to do well. Having a team around you is crucial. Their backing also allowed me to travel and I learned the value of quality over quantity.”
He says he was a “rake and shoot” merchant previously. “Now I play a lot more one ball at a time. I’ve learned you also save energy this way.”
De Beer, 26, is a natural talker, articulating his thoughts with nuance and detail, pointing to a deep understanding of the game. He thinks carefully before talking about the transition from amateur golf to the professional ranks, something he confesses to being more difficult than he imagined.
“I played amateur golf for longer than most, to try to refine my game. But nothing can really prepare you for pro golf. The travel was a shock to my system. I was so used to the GolfRSA system. I’m now rekindling those old friendships with former teammates and it’s been amazing to get that again.
“I’m also learning new courses really quickly. The turnaround between tournaments is so quick, generally two days, which requires an adjustment... and fast.”
CHIP SHOTS
Your favourite course?
“Leopard Creek.”
Which is the best shot you’ve ever played?
“I holed out for an eagle on a par four at the World Universities Championship in the Philippines on the third last hole. It got me into the prizes and a top-five finish after a rather ordinary week.”
Who is the GOAT?
“It’s hard not to say Tiger Woods.”
If you could invite any three people to dinner, who would you choose?
“Scottie Scheffler, Ernie Els – because I’d like to buy him dinner for all he’s done for me – and my dad Dean because he’s never met Ernie and has helped me so much.”
Your favourite food?
“Any good steak.”
The best place you’ve visited?
“Argentina, a real eye-opener.”
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
“My dad and my coach Graham Whale. They set the groundwork for me and worked ridiculous hours.”
By his own admission, his form has waxed and waned in the past 12 months. “A lot of good and a lot of not-so-good,” he admits sheepishly. “But last September and October were amazing.”
Indeed, he won the Blue Label Challenge qualifier and managed several other top-10s that seemed to reflect his potential.
“November to April wasn’t great, but I worked my butt off,” he says, indicating that he was well aware of how the sport demanded constant attention, something he was willing to accommodate.
“Golf always finds a way to beat you down,” he says. “But I’ve stuck to the same processes and that’s starting to pay off, plus I have a good coaching team who hold me to account.”
De Beer is mildly amused to be in the hunt for Rookie of the Year honours, chiefly because he played over 20 events last year and doesn’t feel like a genuine newbie.
“It’s kind of weird, but that’s not my main goal: my goal is the Order of Merit. I want to push for top five or top 10, or perhaps even win it.”
With a game that keeps getting better, and an attitude to match, there’s no betting against De Beer.
He’s paying his dues, as he must.
“I’ve stuck to the same processes and that’s starting to pay off, plus I have a good coaching team who hold me to account”
IMAGES: CARL FOURIE/TYRONE WINFIELD/SHAUN ROY/SUNSHINE TOUR/GOLFRSA