The quick interview: Christiaan Bezuidenhout

South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout, winner of the Alfred Dunhill Championship, looks ahead to 2021

Question: In terms of your career, where does 2020 fit in?

Christiaan: I had put a lot of effort into getting off to a good start to the year prior to The Players, and I liked the course at TPC Sawgrass. It’s a pity that event was cancelled because I ended up just missing my PGA Tour card by not that many points. A decent finish at The Players would have given me my PGA Tour card. But that happened and you can’t change it. I saw it as a time to rebuild and give myself another shot at it. My coach and I decided to make a few changes in my swing so I could be ready for 2021.

Question: What was the best moment of 2020?

Christiaan: I was very relieved to have won the Alfred Dunhill Championship. The tournament is very close to my heart, as well as Leopard Creek and all of the people there. To win this tournament was very special. And then to win the South African Open was amazing.

Question: Was there a secret to your success?

Christiaan: I’m getting more comfortable with where my game is at and my swing, and the whole environment of playing on the European Tour and PGA Tour and playing with the best players in the world. That’s been the biggest change in my game since my first European Tour victory last year (in the Andalucia Masters). It’s more of a comfort thing for me – that I know I can compete with the best in the world.

Question: What are your main targets for 2021?

Christiaan: A place inside the top 30 in the world is one of my next goals and hopefully I can play my way onto the PGA Tour and compete over there. That’s where you want to be.

Question: Off the golf course, what were your main memories of 2020?

Christiaan: I spent a lot of time with Ernie Els while in the United States. Ernie and I are pretty close. I came through his foundation and I’m very fortunate to have somebody like him who can give me great advice. He told me you have to have a balance of working hard and rest. You can’t just work yourself every day for 7-8 hours a day hitting balls and working on your game. You have to rest as well. You need to manage your time well and practise better.