Saffers down, but not out

10 October 2014 - 02:21 By Michael Vlismas
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NO GREEN DREAMS: Charl Schwartzel, at 24th, is the top-ranked South African golfer, but he is in no mood to celebrate after a frustrating year during which neither he nor any countryman has chalked up a win
NO GREEN DREAMS: Charl Schwartzel, at 24th, is the top-ranked South African golfer, but he is in no mood to celebrate after a frustrating year during which neither he nor any countryman has chalked up a win
Image: GALLO IMAGES

With a run of four Major victories in five years since 2008, and a one-time glut of South African golfers in the top 20 in the world, 2014 has been like the perfect storm in terms of a collective slump - and the golfers themselves are keenly aware of it and equally frustrated.

It's a measure of Charl Schwartzel's frustration that when mention is made of him being the highest-ranked South African golfer in the world for most of this year, he is almost dismissive.

"From a South African point of view it's not great," said Schwartzel who, at a ranking of 24 this week, is the only South African golfer in the top 50.

"We're certainly not opening champagne now. I know a lot of the guys are frustrated by it. I know Louis (Oosthuizen) is.

"He's had his injuries. But the skill is still there. It just needs to kick in and we'll be flying again.

"Obviously there have been no wins, and everybody wants to see wins. I want to see wins."

Schwartzel has his own theory regarding his game. "Having a child and my wife going through a really tough time with the birth, during which things didn't go as planned, puts things in perspective for me. It was quite stressful, to say the least.

"So with those changes I don't think I can be too disappointed with the way I've played. I've been consistent enough not to lose too much ground on the rankings. I've still got lots of tournaments left towards the end of the year, so there's lots of space for improvement.

"[In] the last two, three months I've put in a lot of work on my game. I'm actually really excited about it.

"The results are not showing but I honestly don't think it's that far away from being really good again. You just can't push it in this game."

Oosthuizen's frustrations have been more physical in terms of a back injury he's struggled with for the past year-and-a-half. Its impact on his game was nowhere more evident than at the recent Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The injury flared up again earlier in the week to the extent that he had to cut his practice round short. He was close to withdrawing from the tournament on the Friday.

But after some work with his trainer, he was pain-free again on Saturday and he shot 62 on the Old Course to rocket into contention and almost win on the Sunday.

"The game has always been there, but my body was never good in the last year or so and I've always had to change my swing to avoid the pain.

"It shows me that I still have to be careful and do the right work to keep everything in position.

"It's just the way my body is at the moment."

Branden Grace, who had a breakout year in 2012, is feeling a similar sense that his game is close to hitting top form again.

"My game is getting better and I feel it will click very soon, and hopefully then I can get into the winner's circle again."

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