Past South African Open Champion Dylan Naidoo breaks down the reality of touring — from battling extreme weather to making vital mid-week swing adjustments. Photo: Supplied
I managed to catch up with a past South African Open Champion, Dylan Naidoo, about life on the DP World Tour. This serves as a great insight into parents wanting their kids to turn pro, as well as golfers who see pro life as the way of the future.
"Every week on the DP World Tour is a totally different test. I have faced freezing, gale-force winds one week and sweltering heat the next, literally in back-to-back events. The grass types and how firm the turf is are probably the biggest factors, so Monday to Wednesday is key time to dial in those details. I have to make equipment tweaks and technical adjustments to execute the right shots for that specific course.
"In my swing, I'm really focusing on keeping my height in the backswing, especially during the second half where I have a bad habit of lowering too early. I need to do this and make sure I complete my turn. On the range, and sometimes on the course too, it really boils down to one simple cue: 'Tall, complete backswing.'
"One of the biggest challenges out here is adapting to all the different course designs, but this year has been a lot easier as I’ve already seen about half of them from last season. It sounds small, but just stepping into a clubhouse and knowing where everything is gives the brain a little less to worry about.
