Sport

Goosen set for Gary Player Invitational

7 October 2009

South African golf star Retief Goosen is looking forward to his sixth appearance in the Gary Player Invitational when he participates in this year's event at The Links at Fancourt from 26 to 29 November.

The two-time US Open champion says he always enjoys the relaxed atmosphere of the event after the pressure of a long year of competitive golf around the world.

Goosen, who won the professional betterball competition in his first Gary Player Invitational in 2000 with Allan Henning, and partnered Bobby Lincoln to victory in 2006, tasted his first success in the team betterball competition last year alongside businessman Alan Pearson, senior professional Costantino Rocca and former supermodel Inés Sastre.

Camaraderie

"The competitive nature at this event is really about the camaraderie of the team, which is one of the reasons I really like it," said Goosen.

"The tournament is first and foremost geared around charity and then the good natured competition. Having a fun time is merely a natural by-product of that.

"I thoroughly enjoy that atmosphere. This is one of those tournaments where a guy like me can rub shoulders with some of my own sporting heroes.

"I've had the opportunity of playing with guys like Naas Botha, Shaun Pollock and Gary Kirsten. I've also met and played with one of the amazing businessmen that has backed this event for years, Hugh Connerty and, of course, the privilege of playing with the gentlemen that inspired my love of the game – guys like Allan, Bobby, Joe (Dlamini) and John (Bland)."

Goosen says he is still holding out to be paired with his ultimate hero and the host of the event, Gary Player, but is happy to wait his turn.

Good season

The 2009 season has been an industrious one for Goosen. He started the year ranked 45th in the world and is now back in the top 20.

He claimed two wins, at the Sunshine Tour's Africa Open and the Transitions Championship on the PGA Tour. He also counts eight top-10 finishes - including a runner-up spot in the Canadian Open and third at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and BMW International Open - among his highlights this year.

The Goose loves returning to South Africa, but does find it increasingly difficult to spend much time at home.

"I like to support golf in South Africa as much as possible, but it's hard to do everything," said Goosen, who will also star in the Gary Player Invitational presented by Coca-Cola in Shanghai, China in November this year.

Playing in South Africa

"I always try and put time in the schedule for events at the end or start of the year in South Africa. I really enjoy playing in front of a home crowd.

"We play all over the world and when we come home at the end of year it's in our holidays. There is also a lot of pressure on us because people have high expectations from us. We also want to play well for the fans and play well in front of them.

"That's why I enjoy the mixture of competition and comradeship of this event so much, because, in the end, charity is the real star."

The field

Angel Cabrera, the reigning Masters Champion will headline the field alongside Gary Player and The Goose, as well as Sir Clive Woodward, South African longboard and Big Wave Africa surf champion, Grant 'Twiggy' Baker and top British entertainer, DJ Spoony.

Among the senior professionals are Mark McNulty, John Cook, Bill Longmuir and Bertus Smit.

The confirmed businessmen are Dr. Hasso Plattner, Dr Hans-Walter Peters and Hendrik Riehmer of Berenberg Bank, Stokes Land Group president Hugh Connerty and Abdullah Saeed Al Naboodah, chairman of the Al Naboodah Group.

SAinfo reporter