Coetzee relying on ‘rocket science’ at St Andrews

George Coetzee, in 2012, shot a mind-blowing 10-under-par 62 on the Old Course at St Andrews, which at the time was the lowest round at the Home of Golf in around 600 years or so.

That course record was in the final round of the 2012 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, which fellow South African Branden Grace won (and talking about low numbers, Grace was helped by a sensational 60 at Kingsbarns in round one).

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Now, six years on at this year’s edition of the Dunhill, Coetzee admits he still dreams about that 62 and, of course, wishes he can repeat that kind of birdie-busting golf over the next four days here in Scotland, with the tournament starting on Thursday.

Coetzee, who has won on the European Tour this season – in the Tshwane Open – but otherwise has had a somewhat mediocre 2018, spent a long session on the St Andrews practice range under the watchful eye of coach Llewellyn van Leeuwen.

It looked extremely technical as his swing was analysed again and again with high-tech equipment.

“Look,” Coetzee said, not wanting to go into detail, “let’s just say it’s rocket science. But we’ve been working on something for about three months now and I’m happy about how I’m hitting the ball. You’re always learning in this game. It’s great to be back at a place with a history like this and obviously I’m hoping for a good week.”

Like a 62 again? We’ll have to wait and see.

On the adjacent putting green young Haydn Porteous, 103rd in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai but already a winner on the European Tour (in the 2016 Joburg Open), was working on his putting.

The top 110 in the Race to Dubai keep their European Tour playing privileges for next year, so the 24-year-old is borderline although, as he points out, he was not looking at all good six tournaments back.

But in his last six starts, he has made the cut every time and in 24 straight rounds in those vents has only once been over par.

Most rounds have been in the 60s, so it has been an impressive spell.

“It’s been going well. I think if there’s been a problem this year it was not setting myself a definite target at the beginning of the season. I’m learning all the time and if I do that next year – set a target – I believe I can regularly compete against the world’s best players in the world’s biggest tournaments. I really feel I have the game to do that.”

Coetzee, 32, with four European Tour and nine Sunshine Tour wins to his name, feels the same about his game.

So, two to watch in Scotland this week – Coetzee and Porteous?

It may well be the case.

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