South African golfer Dylan Naidoo holds the SA Open trophy aloft after his playoff victory at the Durban Country Club on Saturday
Image: Carl Fourie / Sunshine Tour
In 1963 Sewsunker "Papwa" Sewgolum had to receive his prize for winning the Natal Open outside in the rain after he wasn’t allowed in the then “whites-only” Durban County Club clubhouse.
The humiliation of not being allowed to use the changeroom facilities and being forced to change in a vehicle were just some of the harsh realities of the Apartheid system that faced one of the most talented golfers of his generation.
Almost 62 years later at the very same venue where Sewgolum was treated as a second class citizen, another golfer of colour stood tall in the KwaZulu-Natal rain. But this time it was with the SA Open in hand and he was free to have a hot meal and a hot shower to celebrate his victory.
On Sunday Dylan Naidoo became the first South African golfer of colour to win South Africa’s national open. After the tournament was suspended because of a waterlogged golf course after 54 holes, Naidoo and England’s Laurie Canter - tied for the lead on 14-under par - had to settle things with a playoff on the 18th.
With the weight of history resting on his young shoulders, Naidoo stood tall as he made the birdie on the first playoff hole that shook South African golf history.
The fact that Naidoo did it at the Durban Country Club, where Sewgolum made history as the first player of colour to win a professional golf tournament in South Africa, made the feat even more significant.
It's something that is not lost on Naidoo either …
“For what this means in terms of Papwa Sewgolum and him having won the Natal Open here, it’s incredible. I feel like he was with me here today,” said Naidoo.
The victory secured Naidoo a DP World Tour card and he also claimed one of the three spots on offer for The Open at Royal Portrush this July on a magical Sunday.
Naidoo has come through the GolfRSA pipeline, and it’s been hard work for the Johannesburg-born golfer to get to this point, having started his pro career on the lesser tours in the country.
But now he can look forward to playing on the second biggest tour in the world, which comes with a lot more money and opportunities.
Naidoo’s father, who had sacrificed a lot to help his kid achieve his dreams, had flown into Durban to watch a final round that didn’t happen, then left for the airport to fly back home for work on Monday. However, he then raced back from the airport to watch the playoff and see his son step into golf history.
“My dad and I have been through it all, and I couldn’t think of someone more special to share this with. It’s just been the best day ever. I mean, I’m on the DP World Tour,” said Naidoo.
“That’s outrageous. I’m going to be playing around the world against some of the best players in the world. And I’m playing in The Open. It’s a dream.
“I felt like I had nothing to lose in the playoff. I just wanted to go out there and have fun and do it. To have my name on the SA Open trophy is unbelievable. It’s like a fairytale,” he said.
Additional reporting by Michael Vlismas / Sunshine Tour
@JohnGoliath82