Anthony Michael swings back
NORTHCLIFF – Professional golfer moves from 80th in the country to eighth.
Professional golfer, Anthony Michael (31) can be glad he did not quit golf when he was at his lowest point, as things are certainly looking up for him now.
The Northcliff resident and Sunshine Tour member had a breakthrough start to his pro career in the 2009/10 season. He finished second in his first Alfred Dunhill Championship and played in the SA Open and the Africa Open that same year. He even made it to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland in 2011 and played with the best golfers in the world.
He believes his early success gave him unrealistic expectations and he did not play as well as he should have in 2011, 2012 and 2013 and was ranked between 70 and 80 in the country for most of that time.
“The hardest part of golf is getting out of a bad rut; that season put a lot of pressure on me to play well to earn a living, and you play better without that pressure. I would not like anyone to feel that pressure,” he said.
He thought seriously about giving up the sport he loves, but he could not do it. Instead, Michael found that he grew to love the mental challenges golf brings, and how much commitment it requires to be successful in the sport. Gradually, Michael made his way back onto the list of names to watch out for.
He has now played in the SA Open and the Alfred Dunhill Championship a total of three times each, the Africa Open every year since 2009 and the Nelson Mandela Championship. Furthermore, he earned R1.3 million for coming third at the Tshwane Open in February, and he came third in the Lombard Insurance Classic in Swaziland in March and 23rd at last year’s SA Open.
Michael is currently ranked eighth in the country, and hopes to win his first title soon, hoping, one day, to win a Professional Golfers Association (PGA) tour, and then he will retire once he has earned enough money to live comfortably.
Michael has been a member of the Randpark Golf Club for 17 years when his father and grandfather helped him transition from a baseball player to a golfer.
