Dylan Naidoo is hoping his new found freedom will bring some long-awaited success as he makes his first appearance as a DP World Tour winner at the Joburg Open.
The home favourite has long been a regular in events co-sanctioned by the DP World and Sunshine Tours but his victory at last week's Investec South African Open Championship has handed him a winner's category on the former and the chance to plan a schedule involving some of the game's biggest and most historic tournaments.
That all starts with one more co-sanctioned event this week at Houghton Golf Club at the tournament where Naidoo made his DP World Tour debut just days after his 17th birthday in 2015 but where he had not made the cut until last season.
“I was playing my practice round and thinking about some of the sensations I've had on this golf course before,” he said.
“I haven't historically played great here so it's nice to come in with a bit of freedom and a different mindset and whether I play well or not, I know it's going to be a very different week.
“I've had a couple of meetings with everyone on my team to discuss the way forward and it's like, 'woah, there's a lot of change happening'.
“But it's all for the better. It's a really exciting time in my life and eventually it will sink in but not yet.
“It's very crazy because we are in our little golf bubble and we live and die for the golf and now I'm getting (attention from) people from far far outside of golf, not even golf adjacent.
“It's really special. At the end of the day it's nice to bring attention to the game and grow the game of golf to a group of people who don't always get the chance to follow it.”
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Since turning professional in 2019, Naidoo has been a consistent figure on the Sunshine Tour but is enjoying a breakout season with two wins and two runner-up finishes, including at the co-sanctioned AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
And while the pressure is largely off this week, the 27-year-old would still like to put in a good showing at the event where it all began.
“The Joburg Open has always been a special event for me,” he said. “I've played this event since I was 16 years old and it's been a platform for me my entire life, it feels like.
“I've always really really wanted to play well here and I've played terribly here in the past. I made the cut for the first time last year after 11 years of trying to make the cut so let's see how the week goes.
“Whether it goes well or not, I'm not too bothered. I'm just going to play my best and see what happens.”
