Latest news with #Bezuidenhout
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Last chance for golfers to make FedEx playoffs
Van Rooyen just in, Bezuidenhout just out, of top 70 rankings. This week's Wyndham Championship is the final event on the PGA of America's regular tour in 2025 and the last chance for golfers to qualify for the FedEx playoffs – the tour's grand finale. That adds a lot of extra spice and betting interest to the tournament that tees off at Sedgefield Country Club in North Carolina on Thursday. Only 70 players qualify for the first FedEx playoff, the St Jude Classic, the following week – the top performers who've amassed the most points over the whole season. Nicolai Hojgaard is the man currently in 71st position, so he'll be on the charge at the Wyndham. The PGA's official website ranks the Dane at No 1 in its Power Rankings of this week's competitors – following a solid showing at the Open Championship at Royal Portrush earlier this month, when he tied for 14th place. Yet Hojgaard is not favourite to win the Wyndham, languishing at 53.00 in the Betway odds. That is a clear value proposition – as is his 3.50 to make the Top 20, 6.55 for the Top 10 and 13.00 for the Top 5. Topping the boards is England's Matt Fitzpatrick at 19.60, with emerging talent Ben Griffin next at 23.80, Aaron Rai at 25.10 and Keegan Bradley at 25.40. Bradley is the only world top-10 ranker in the 156-strong field as, understandably, most of top players – comfortably FedEx qualified – are taking a tournament break ahead of the playoffs. The only South Africans in the FedEx top 70 are Aldrich Potgieter at a safe 42nd and Erik van Rooyen at a febrile 64th. The latter is playing this week and is priced up at 145.00 the Win. Christiaan Bezuidenhout, in FedEx position 74, will be among those trying to usurp his countryman's slot and the bookmakers give him a 55.00 chance of winning in Greensboro. The PGA's Power Rankings have Bezuidenhout in 13th place, so a tickle at 3.80 for Top 20 appeals.
IOL News
19-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Only 3 out of 11 SA golfers make The Open cut, with Christiaan Bezuidenhout faring the best
Christiaan Bezuidenhout South Africa's Christiaan Bezuidenhout watches his drive from the 17th tee on the opening day of the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush golf club in Northern Ireland. Picture: AFP The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland has proven to be a challenging battleground for the South African 11-man contingent. Only three of the 11 players made the cut after a gruelling two rounds of competition. Leading the pack, Christiaan Bezuidenhout maintained a glimmer of hope for the nation despite falling out of contention on Friday. Bezuidenhout, who shared the early lead after an impressive opening round of 67, saw his fortunes shift as the second round unfolded. Despite starting brightly, the 29-year-old recorded a two-over-par 73 on Friday, landing him at two-over for the championship and tied for 17th place, eight strokes behind American Scottie Scheffler, who surged to the top with a stunning second-round performance. Scheffler, the reigning PGA Championship winner and current world number one, dazzled spectators with a remarkable 64, which featured eight birdies and only a single bogey, showcasing his prowess on the course even amid challenging, rainy conditions. 'I felt like I hit a few more fairways than I did yesterday, hit some nice iron shots, and was able to hole some putts,' Scheffler told the media afterwards. His solid play has made him a favourite for his first Claret Jug, sitting at 10-under-par. Joining Bezuidenhout in the weekend action are Dean Burmester and Thriston Lawrence. Burmester, who remained steady throughout the two rounds, posted two consecutive even-par scores of 71 to end the halfway stage tied for 34th. Lawrence rallied from a shaky opening round to finish with a one-under-par 70, placing him tied for 51st at one-over par. However, the remaining eight South African contestants have struggled to find their rhythm. Notably, reigning South African Open champion Dylan Naidoo marked his major debut with rounds of 74 and 72, ending on four-over par. Fellow professionals Shaun Norris and Aldrich Potgieter both finished five-over par, while 2010 Open champion Louis Oosthuizen could not muster a stronger performance, ending at six-over par. Other competitors such as Darren Fichardt, Justin Walters, Daniel van Tonder, and amateur Bryan Newman all fell well below the cut line, highlighting the fierce competition faced in the illustrious championship. As the tournament progresses into the weekend, Bezuidenhout, Burmester, and Lawrence will need to leverage their skills to climb higher and make an impact, with the hope that South Africa's long-waiting major title drought will not extend beyond this year's competition.
Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Christiaan Bezuidenhout's speech impediment caused by tragic accident as toddler
South African golfer Christiaan Bezuidenhout is currently in action at the The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush - but he nearly died aged two after a freak accident Christiaan Bezuidenhout is making headlines for his performance at The 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush — but his journey to the top of golf has been anything but ordinary. In fact, his story could have ended before it even began. At just two years old, while playing with friends in his native South Africa, Bezuidenhout stumbled upon what he thought was a bottle of Coca-Cola. He took a sip - and his life changed forever. The bottle, discarded and unlabelled, contained rat poison. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors managed to save his life by pumping his stomach. However, the damage had already been done. The poison impacted his nervous system, leaving him with a severe stutter that would shape much of his early life. READ MORE: The Open Championship star who's won £26million speaks out about how he spends his money "This led to me becoming very introverted and depressed," he wrote in a DP World Tour blog in 2019. "I was basically just living in my own world because I was always scared of having to engage in conversation with my stutter. "When I talked to people, I knew I would struggle and it would take time for me to deliver my words, so I always had a fear of answering the phone, saying my name, or being asked a question." However, with the help of a psychologist, Bezuidenhout gradually rebuilt his confidence. But the stammer, he says, is something he's had to learn to live with, not eliminate. Things came to a head in 2014 when, while competing in The Amateur at Royal Portrush, Bezuidenhout was selected for a routine drug test. At the time, he was taking prescribed beta blockers to manage his anxiety linked to the stutter. He disclosed the medication honestly on the test form. Two months later, just days before representing South Africa at the Eisenhower Trophy — a goal he had long worked toward — Bezuidenhout received the devastating news that he was suspended from competition for two years. "I just broke down," he recalled. "It felt like my life was over." Though he had declared the medication in good faith, he still faced criticism. Rumours swirled, and he became labelled as "the guy banned for drugs." For Bezuidenhout and his family, the fallout was painful. "The worst part was all the stories and accusations," he said. "People said I was using [beta blockers] to enhance my performance. That really hurt." Eventually, following a hearing, the ban was reduced to nine months. "It was reduced to nine months because I wasn't using the medication to better my golf," Bezuidenhout told BBC Sport Northern Ireland. In his first event back — a mini-tour event in South Africa — he won by seven shots. His comeback gained serious momentum in 2019 when he claimed his first DP World Tour title at the Andalucia Masters in Spain, winning by six shots over five runners-up, including Spanish star Jon Rahm. A year later, during the disrupted COVID season, he went back-to-back with wins at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the South African Open. Bezuidenhout has since established himself on the PGA Tour. While he has yet to capture a victory on American soil, he has consistently made cuts and earned over $11 million (over £8m) in prize money.
The Irish Sun
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Open star Christiaan Bezuidenhout was minutes from death when he accidentally drank RAT POISON at the age of two
NOT many punters tipped Christiaan Bezuidenhout for The Open, but the South African is used to beating the odds. Bezuidenhout, 31, was left fighting for his life when he accidentally drank RAT POISON at the age of two. Advertisement 3 Christiaan Bezuidenhout is an unlikely challenger for The Open Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 3 Christiaan Bezuidenhout tees off on the sixth hole Credit: Getty He somehow survived but was left with a stutter and a damaged nervous system that required years on prescription drugs . Bezuidenhout also had to overcome bullying as he defied expectations to become one of the brightest golfing prospects. And he is in the mix for the greatest prize in golf with an opening round of 67 in the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush. Bezuidenhout was a toddler when he took a swig from a bottle he found on the street which he thought contained Coca-Cola - but the drink had been replaced by poison. Advertisement read more in golf He said 'There was a two-litre Coke bottle standing there with rat poison in it. 'Somehow I managed to open it and took a sip. 'At the hospital they basically told my parents we got there just in time. It was a matter of minutes.' The terrible accident left him with a range of health issues including a crippling stammer. Advertisement Most read in Golf BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Bezuidenhout said: 'I almost died. 'The poison affected the whole nervous system, and one of the long-term effects led to me having a stutter. "I was diagnosed with anxiety when I was four. This led to me becoming very introverted and depressed. Advertisement 'I went on to see various speech therapists. I was pretty much a loner growing up, most of the time I was just doing my own thing every day. 'A good few times people made fun of it, thought it all was funny. It wasn't smooth sailing.' Golf became his escape from the bullies, a place where he could be alone on the course. Bezuidenhout developed into a fine young player but when he won trophies, he ducked out of the prize giving ceremonies because of his speech impediment. Advertisement Tense moment as furious Jon Rahm confronts golf fan at The Open He said; 'I was always a loner, practised on my own. I took myself away from people and places with people there. Golf was like an escape from my circumstances. 'Most of the people in South Africa knew my situation so most of the time when I won junior tournaments, I just didn't speak. I got my trophy and left.' And he was later banned from golf for nine months for taking drugs to combat his stutter - before 'slowly" gaining confidence in the last few years. His fine amateur career was hamstrung during a visit to Portrush in 2014 for the British Amateur Championship . Advertisement He was banned for two years but the suspension was later reduced to nine months. Bezuidenhout received the news just as he was about to represent South Africa at the World Amateur Team Championship . He was heartbroken, saying: 'It was awful. It was a huge goal of mine to be selected to the team. It felt like my life was over.' Advertisement However the ban proved to be the making of him. He said: 'I actually just accepted it The Open 2025 ONE of the most anticipated Opens in years is finally here. Can THE OPEN 2025 LIVE - Follow all the latest updates from Royal Portrush TIPS AND FREE BETS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW... The Open 2025 schedule and tee times TOP STORIES... 3 Christiaan Bezuidenhout hits his opening drive on day two Credit: Getty 'This is who I am and if you don't like it then so be it. Advertisement 'That was like a mind switch for me. There was quite a lot of negativity and people talking about me taking medication to get an advantage or improve my game. 'I was determined to show those people that I can play well without that. I took those nine months and worked really hard then came back stronger.' Bezuidenhout turned professional in 2015 and has won ten tournaments since then including the South African Open. Victory at Royal Portrush would cap a remarkable comeback from his horror childhood accident. Advertisement
Scottish Sun
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Open star Christiaan Bezuidenhout was minutes from death when he accidentally drank RAT POISON at the age of two
Bezuidenhout has also overcome an unjust drugs ban to become one of the brightest golfing prospects HORROR ACCIDENT Open star Christiaan Bezuidenhout was minutes from death when he accidentally drank RAT POISON at the age of two NOT many punters tipped Christiaan Bezuidenhout for The Open, but the South African is used to beating the odds. Bezuidenhout, 31, was left fighting for his life when he accidentally drank RAT POISON at the age of two. Advertisement 3 Christiaan Bezuidenhout is an unlikely challenger for The Open Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 3 Christiaan Bezuidenhout tees off on the sixth hole Credit: Getty He somehow survived but was left with a stutter and a damaged nervous system that required years on prescription drugs. Bezuidenhout also had to overcome bullying as he defied expectations to become one of the brightest golfing prospects. And he is in the mix for the greatest prize in golf with an opening round of 67 in the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush. Bezuidenhout was a toddler when he took a swig from a bottle he found on the street which he thought contained Coca-Cola - but the drink had been replaced by poison. Advertisement He said 'There was a two-litre Coke bottle standing there with rat poison in it. 'Somehow I managed to open it and took a sip. 'At the hospital they basically told my parents we got there just in time. It was a matter of minutes.' The terrible accident left him with a range of health issues including a crippling stammer. Advertisement BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Bezuidenhout said: 'I almost died. 'The poison affected the whole nervous system, and one of the long-term effects led to me having a stutter. "I was diagnosed with anxiety when I was four. This led to me becoming very introverted and depressed. Advertisement 'I went on to see various speech therapists. I was pretty much a loner growing up, most of the time I was just doing my own thing every day. 'A good few times people made fun of it, thought it all was funny. It wasn't smooth sailing.' Golf became his escape from the bullies, a place where he could be alone on the course. Bezuidenhout developed into a fine young player but when he won trophies, he ducked out of the prize giving ceremonies because of his speech impediment. Advertisement Tense moment as furious Jon Rahm confronts golf fan at The Open He said; 'I was always a loner, practised on my own. I took myself away from people and places with people there. Golf was like an escape from my circumstances. 'Most of the people in South Africa knew my situation so most of the time when I won junior tournaments, I just didn't speak. I got my trophy and left.' And he was later banned from golf for nine months for taking drugs to combat his stutter - before 'slowly" gaining confidence in the last few years. His fine amateur career was hamstrung during a visit to Portrush in 2014 for the British Amateur Championship. Advertisement Bezuidenhout tested positive for prescribed beta blockers which he was taking to combat the after effects of his horrible accident as a child. He was banned for two years but the suspension was later reduced to nine months. Bezuidenhout received the news just as he was about to represent South Africa at the World Amateur Team Championship. He was heartbroken, saying: 'It was awful. It was a huge goal of mine to be selected to the team. It felt like my life was over.' Advertisement However the ban proved to be the making of him. He said: 'I actually just accepted it 3 Christiaan Bezuidenhout hits his opening drive on day two Credit: Getty 'This is who I am and if you don't like it then so be it. Advertisement 'That was like a mind switch for me. There was quite a lot of negativity and people talking about me taking medication to get an advantage or improve my game. 'I was determined to show those people that I can play well without that. I took those nine months and worked really hard then came back stronger.' Bezuidenhout turned professional in 2015 and has won ten tournaments since then including the South African Open. Victory at Royal Portrush would cap a remarkable comeback from his horror childhood accident.
