Ockie Strydom has had a life-changing three months in which he's won twice on the DP World Tour. It's a journey that began at Leopard Creek last December with his breakthrough victory in the 2022 Alfred Dunhill Championship.
Question: How much did winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship mean to you, and the self-confidence it gave you for your second DP World Tour title in the Singapore Classic?
Ockie Strydom: The Alfred Dunhill Championship was one that I always wanted to win. To be able to win this title at a course like Leopard Creek showed me that I do have the game to win again. And that made the victory in Singapore that much easier for me.
Question: You had 19 runners-up finishes before your victory at Leopard Creek. And now you’ve won twice in three months. How did you work through that?
Ockie Strydom: It was always on my mind: would I ever win on the DP World Tour? Especially after so many second places. I just focused on what I could control. Technically, my coach Doug Wood and I worked on my clubface in the week of the Alfred Dunhill Championship, and to square it up as it was closed at the top of my swing. And then Willie the physio helped me get through the week physically. My back was under big pressure and I was in quite a bit of pain that week.
Question: In Singapore, when you were under pressure missing the green on 18 and produced that phenomenal chip that led to a birdie and the win, you looked like you had the confidence that you just knew you could pull it off?
Ockie Strydom: I was really calm throughout the final round. I had two options on that chip and I decided to go for the bump and run. For safety reasons really. It was probably one of the best chips that I have ever played under pressure.
Question: Did you ever think your second DP World Tour victory would come so quickly?
Ockie Strydom: To be honest I didn’t even think I would ever win the Alfred Dunhill Championship. So not really. But in Singapore I just went out and enjoyed myself, and I’m very grateful it led to a second title for me so soon.
Question: What has been the biggest change for you with these two victories?
Ockie Strydom: It’s given me the self-belief to know I belong out here and that I can compete against the top players in the world.
Question: How do things change for you now in the immediate future of your career?
Ockie Strydom: After playing at home in South Africa in these two Sunshine Tour / DP World Tour co-sanctioned events, it’s back over to the United Kingdom.
