Publications
Partners
Cape Town - South African golfer Dylan Frittelli hopes to have caught the eye of International Team captain Ernie Els for December's Presidents Cup.
The 29-year-old cruised to a two-stroke victory at the John Deere Classic for his maiden PGA Tour title.
Frittelli's win was the first time a South African has won on the PGA Tour since Branden Grace's RBC Heritage victory in April 2016.
READ: Frittelli banks R15m after maiden PGA Tour win
Frittelli credited South African major winners Ernie Els and Retief Goosen for that planting that winning abroad seed from a earlier age.
"I just remembered watching Ernie (Els) and Retief (Goosen) in the early days at the majors... Obviously it was six hours ahead in South Africa, I just loved staying up late and watching them compete," Frittelli told reporters.
"They really set an idea in my head: 'Hey, they are from South Africa and maybe I can do this if I work at it'. It was just a little seed that was planted. Throughout the years I've come into contact with Ernie, who has been great to me, and tons of South Africans who've come after him and just set that standard. So it's easy to see and think 'hang on, I can do this as well'.
"When I was 16-years old, David Frost spoke at a under-17 tournament and I picked up a really good lesson from him. He probably doesn't remember it, because he gives the same speech at a bunch of events but he mentioned about having a routine over a putt.
"He said, 'If you're going to walk into a putt and take seven different practise strokes and then three each time, then you don't have a routine, you're setting yourself up for failure' and that's a tip I still use today. I managed to get tid bits from other players like George Coetzee, Trevor Immelman and Tim Clark. Tons of South Africans have helped me out and set that stage for what I've done so far."
His win saw him become South Africa's fifth highest-ranked golfer, moving up 41 places to 92nd.
Last year, Sport24 chatted to Frittelli at the Mauritius Open and he revealed that making Els' Presidents Cup team was priority in 2019.
"That's probably the major goal... as long as I can play and do well in the big stage then I'm sure a Presidents Cup berth is on the horizon."
The Presidents Cup will return to Melbourne and The Royal Melbourne Golf Club for the third time from December 9-15.
The top eight international players from the Presidents Cup International Team points list, which shall be Official World Golf Ranking points accumulated in the time period from August 27, 2018 through August 18, 2019.
Four captain's selections will be made at a to-be-determined later date.
