ZIMBABWE’S number one golfer Brendon de Jonge, who came very close to capturing a maiden PGA Tour title towards the end of last year, will be hoping to carry on from where he left off when he tees off at the Sony Open in Hawaii on tomorrow.
DANIEL NHAKANISO SPORTS REPORTER The Sony Open which has a prize fund of $5 600 000 is the second US PGA Tour event in 2015 after last week’s 2015 Hyundai Tournament of Champions.
De Jonge, who sits a respectable 15th on the FedEx Cup standings came agonisingly close to winning his first PGA Tour title in October last year, coming just short on the second playoff hole to American Robert Streb at the McGladrey Classic.
The McGladrey Classic was de Jonge’s last tournament in the US as he went on to take part in tournaments in Malaysia, Turkey and Australia with mixed fortunes.
He will be desperate to return to the US circuit on a positive note as he has set his sights on qualifying for next year’s edition of the biennial Presidents Cup in South Korea after a memorable debut in the prestigious team competition two years ago.
The former St Johns’ College student justified his selection as Nick Price’s second captain’s pick for the International team in 2013 with a superb individual display at the 2013 Presidents Cup, earning praise from his fellow teammates. With Price expected to return as 2015 International Presidents Cup team captain, de Jonge, who endured an average season last year told NewsDay Sport from his base in the US that he is eager to play for his childhood hero again.
“With regard last season, overall I am a little disappointed…I did not achieve the results of the previous few years and my game lacked consistency,” said De Jonge.
“Looking forward to the New Year, the major goal is to try and get back on Nick’s (Nick Price) Presidents Cup team and get to relive that wonderful experience again,” he said.
