UPDATE: Pro golfer Wayne Westner commits suicide

Pro golfer Wayne Westner has committed suicide.

It was originally reported that he and his family were involved in an alleged hostage situation, but police have now confirmed he died of suicide, shooting himself in the head in front of his family.

This after unconfirmed reports of a possible hostage situation at a Pennington residence in KwaZulu-Natal originally claimed that a 55-year-old pro-golfer had died of a gunshot wound to the right side of his head, South Coast Herald reported.

Emergency medical response teams are at the scene.

Exact circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. Reports have, however, emerged that Westner forced his way into his estranged wife’s home.

Juan Venter

Westner, 55, is best known for winning the South African Open in 1988 and 1991, both times at the Durban Country Club, where his power and prodigious length off the tee enabled him to use a 1-iron to navigate his way around the notoriously tight layout.

He won 14 professional events, including two European Tour events, as well as the 1996 World Cup of Golf with Ernie Els.

At one point he was ranked 40th in the Official World Golf Rankings.

In recent years he invented a concept called the ‘Instant Golfer’.

He studied the art of the golf swing for many years and worked with some of the world’s top teachers, including David Leadbetter, Mac O’Grady, Denis Pugh, Simon Holmes and Bob Torrance.

Westner had recently been coaching aspiring young professionals at the Wayne Westner Golf College in KwaZulu-Natal.

His career was unfortunately cut short through injury in 1998.

(Source: Instant Golfer)

– Caxton News Service

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