When Tiger met Vijay at Fancourt

“I watched Tiger. That was the first time I saw Tiger. I watched Vijay [Singh]. I was angry when Vijay beat Tiger. But I was also happy because he's international and beat the USA,” Nethunzwi told IOL Sport in an exclusive interview.

A campaigner chiefly on the local Sunshine Tour, a top performance at the Joburg Open, the event co-sanctioned with the DP World Tour (DPWT), could be life-changing for Nethunzwi.

“I'm just looking forward to the tournament. [I have] a bit of a history at the Joburg Open. I started playing Joburg Open when I was still an amateur.

“Throughout the years that I played Joburg Open, I've always been improving and improving. The last two seasons, I missed the cut by one. Hopefully, this year things can change and I can finish higher.”

Nethunzwi revealed how Dylan Naidoo’s victory in the SA Open was inspirational for players of colour in South Africa.

“Keenan Davidse played well at the Alfred Dunhill. Yurav Premlal in Sishen. Dylan Naidoo finished well (2nd) at Mauritius. And this year he won the SA Open.

“Dylan gives a lot of players of colour motivation. If he can do it, we can also do it. Honestly, we're all on that level. I was happy for him. He did well. For his team as well. That's a motivation to all players of colour.”