ZIMBABWE’S leading professional Brendon de Jonge will next week make his debut at the 143rd Open Championship to be played from July 17-20 at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England.
DANIEL NHAKANISO
Having missed out several times in the past since turning professional in 2003,de Jonge finally earned his invitation to the world’s oldest Major after an impressive season in 2013.
According to the list of entries released by the organisers, the 33-year-old de Jonge was one of the seven players who qualified for the Open Championship by virtue of their impressive run in last year’s PGA Tour FedEx Cup play-offs and the Tour Championship.
The other players are American golfers Nick Watney, Billy Horschel, Roberto Castro, Kevin Streelman, Boo Weekley and D.A. Points.
de Jonge has featured in the first two major championships of the season, performing commendably on both occasions at the US Masters at Augusta National and last month’s US Open held at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.
In his first ever appearance at the US Masters in May, de Jonge finished in a tie for position 38 and was one of only two African golfers together with Louis Oosthuizen to make the 36-hole cut in the tournament.
A month later at the US Open, de Jonge led Africa’s charge, finishing as the highest placed African on position 28 ahead of South African major champions Ernie Els, Oosthuizen and Rietef Goosen.
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Although he is yet to taste victory on the PGA Tour, de Jonge has had a decent year, making the cut in all, but just four of the 21 tournaments he has taken part in, while finishing in the top 10 twice.
de Jonge will go into the tournament hoping to emulate his childhood hero Nick Price who made Zimbabwe proud by winning the famous Claret at the 1994 Open Championship at Turnberry Golf Resort in Scotland.
This week’s John Deere Classic which tees off at TPC Deere Run in Illinois, US today will give de Jonge an opportunity to fine-tune his preparations before the Open Championship.
Meanwhile, the winner of next week’s Open Championship will pocket £975 000 after an increase in the total prize money to £5,4 million ($9,19 million),£150 000 up on last year.
American Phil Mickelson won the famous Claret Jug at Muirfield 12 months ago after finishing three shots ahead of Sweden’s Henrik Stenson.
