READY FOR BATTLE Darren Fichardt, a stalwart of South African golf, is eagerly anticipating his transition to the senior tour as he approaches his 50th birthday, while still competing on the DP World Tour Picture: Carl Fourie/Sunshine Tour
Image: Carl Fourie/Sunshine Tour
As Darren Fichardt approaches his 50th birthday, it’s only natural that he eagerly anticipates joining the senior tour.
However, he’s not ready to stop competing with the young guns just yet. Fichardt hopes to continue performing well on the DP World Tour (DPWT).
Although he missed the cut at the Joburg Open, the seasoned professional achieved a top finish at the SA Open held at Durban Country Club, where Dylan Naidoo emerged victorious.
While Naidoo made history as the first player of colour to win the SA Open, Fichardt quietly secured a tie for fourth place.
While he believed his game was in a good place at the moment, Fichardt soon began talking about the senior tour.
“I hit the ball the same. I feel the same as I did when I was 40,” Fichardt told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interview.
“If not, [I have] a little bit more wisdom, which helps a little bit. Well, I've got a mixed bag of feelings for this season because obviously I'm turning 50 in May, which opens up the whole senior world."
“So, I've got hopefully three senior majors and then I've got an exemption on the Legends Tour and hopefully I can edge my way onto the Champions Tour as well.”
While the senior tour may offer lucrative opportunities, Fichardt must scrutinise his schedule while still possessing a DPWT card.
“I've still got a DP World Tour card, which is also not an easy task to secure a card on this tour. I don't quite know yet. I need to take it as it comes and see where we go. See where we go with it.”
If the 18-time Sunshine Tour event winner decides to join the senior circuit soon, he will once again face some of his golfing idols.
While Ernie Els is one of the top players on the Champions Tour in the United States, Fichardt expressed his excitement about the opportunity to play against The Big Easy.
“Absolutely. I played with Ernie last year and the practice round at Royal Troon [in the 2024 Open Championship]. It was nice seeing the old guys again. The next day, I played with Justin Leonard."
“I was playing with all the old boys. It's nice to play with the older generation, the guys that I was looking up to when I was younger."
“So, obviously, playing with all the kids now, and it’s a completely different era, but I’m looking forward to that chapter in my life.”
It’s been 13 long years since a South African clinched a men’s major championship. However, players like Aldrich Potgieter, who narrowly missed out on winning the Mexico Open before succumbing in a playoff two weeks ago on the PGA Tour, offer a glimmer of hope for the future from a local standpoint.
“Very exciting. I mean, I'll probably leave out a few guys, but just what comes to mind, Casey Jarvis and Jayden Schaper, Ryan van Velzen and obviously over on the PGA Tour you've got [Aldrich] Potgieter."
“I'm very excited to see what Christiaan Maas is going to do in here when he turns pro. Daniel Bennett too."
“I mean, I think South African golf is in a very good place. I think there's a lot of huge talent coming through and hopefully we can pick up a lot more majors in the future.”
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