Latest news with #ZAAHIERADAMSIndependentMedia
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
The life of a professional golfer is no laughing matter . . . just ask Robin Williams
Robin Williams and his dad Morné, who was on the bag last week, at the Turkish Airlines Open. Photo: ZAAHIER ADAMS Independent Media Image: ZAAHIER ADAMS Independent Media The late Robin Williams delivered an excellent set on the comedic absurdities of golf in his Grammy award-winning one-man show back in 2002. It had the Broadway audience in stitches and has since garnered over seven million views on YouTube. Even golfers appreciated Williams' spoof of their beloved game, with current Masters champion Rory McIlroy and South African legend Gary Player among those who sent heartfelt condolences upon Williams' death in 2014. This past week, I watched another Robin Williams closely at the Turkish Airlines Open — but this was no laughing matter. Here was a young man, just 23-years old, playing for his livelihood among some of golf's biggest names at the Regnum Carya Golf Club. The former Fortress Rookie of the Year on the Sunshine Tour in 2023 was coming off a hectic stretch, having played 44 tournaments last year — the most of any professional golfer on the circuit. However, prior to the Turkish Airlines Open, he had missed nine cuts in 14 starts since his promotion to the DP World Tour. In response, he opted to take a playing break to fine-tune his game ahead of the European season, after a few chinks had crept in. With his father on the bag — his regular caddie unable to obtain a Schengen visa in time — it became a family affair for a week in Antalya. Refreshed and revitalised, Williams delivered a credible performance that saw him in contention with just three holes to play in the final round. Although he ultimately fell away on the 16th, he closed with a level-par 71 to finish on 11-under in a share of seventh. He was projected to climb 32 places in the Race to Dubai rankings to 87th. But that wasn't what stood out for me. Coming from a world of professional cricket — where players travel business class, are shuttled from the airport to five-star hotels, receive meals, massages and allowances of up to $100 per day — the life of a professional golfer was a rude awakening. Williams was one of the fairytale stories of the Turkish Airlines Open, alongside eventual winner, the golden-locked 22-year-old Frenchman Martin Couvra. The youngsters had the Turkish public in raptures for four days, with young boys and girls waiting at the 18th hole for a signature or a selfie. Williams was particularly popular, with one boy screaming: 'You're my favourite Robbie!' It certainly felt like Robbie Williams mania in the Mediterranean for a few magical days. But as soon as he left the players' enclosure, there was his father, Morne, standing outside the clubhouse with clubs packed and suitcase in hand — ready to move on to the next tournament. No extra night's stay or celebratory drink. That's simply too costly. So, while Williams may have earned in excess of R1 million for the week's work, he still has to make up for the nine missed cuts earlier in the season. Next time you see a golfer's hand trembling as they line up a putt on the 18th, remember — there's far more than glory at stake. * Zaahier Adams attended the Turkish Airlines Open at the Regnum Carya Golf Club in Antalya, courtesy of Turkish Airlines.
IOL News
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Robin ‘Tiger' Williams shows his claws to lead SA charge at Turkish Airlines Open
Robin Williams Youngster Robin Williams is a joint leader at the Turkish Airlines Open in Antalya. Photo: TYRONE WINFIELD Sunshine Tour Image: TYRONE WINFIELD Sunshine Tour ANTALYA: Young Robin Williams is leading the South African charge in the DP World Tour's Turkish Airlines Open here at the Regnum Carya in Antalya, Türkiye. The 23-year-old enjoyed a strong start with three birdies within his first four holes, and maintained his form throughout the day with three further birdies to finish on six-under-par to tie with co-leaders Italian Martin Couvra and German Tiger Christensen after Thursday's first round. Meanwhile, a refreshed Wilco Nienaber believes a new-found philosophical approach to the game will help him succeed in the Turkish Airlines Open. Nienaber, who won the NTT DATA Pro-Am at Fancourt while his grandfather was on his death bed back in February, shot a splendid opening-round 68 to finish three-under par on Thursday. 'I think, with the events at home, I was pretty tired,' Nienaber said. 'A lot of personal stuff has happened since NTT Data. 'I lost my grandfather one day after. So, quite a lot has happened since then. 'Chats have been had, and things have happened on the other side of it. He wasn't well for quite a while. DYLAN NAIDOO SA Open champion Dylan Naidoo enjoyed a rough opening day at the DP World Tour's Turkish Airlines Open at the Regnum Carya in Antalya, Türkiye. Photo: ZAAHIER ADAMS Independent Media Image: ZAAHIER ADAMS Independent Media Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad Loading 'But knowing it's going to happen and when it happens, it doesn't make it any easier. As a close family, it hurt us. That's how life is unfortunately.' Having experienced this trauma, the big-hitting 25-year-old now takes everything in his stride, despite bogeying the 10th and 16th holes. 'Number 10, water left, trees right, I had a committed tee shot, wind didn't really push it to the fairway,' Nienaber said. 'Bounced and rolled into the hazard, hit a good approach shot and missed the par putt. '(On 17) Bad tee shot, just a bad tee shot, left of the tee, but I made a bad decision on the second shot. Shouldn't have done that, but almost made par as well. 'I'm not getting frustrated if you miss too many, because you have a lot of chances. I'm happy with it. 'Maybe a little bit of execution on maybe two shots, but 's it. You hit many golf shots, so to hit two average ones are okay. 'All in all, very solid, very happy about it.' He was equally measured with his birdies on No 1, 5, 14, 15 and 17. 'I did some adjustments with my driver on Monday with Dom Prompting and it's really good. So, it's nice to hit it long and straight,' Nienaber said. 'Fourteen was just a great iron shot to five foot, and 15 driver forerun to putt, sounds straightforward, but I was pretty steady today.' DYLAN NAIDOO Dylan Naidoo's tee shot off hole No 6 led to a double-bogey. Photo: ZAAHIER ADAMS Independent Media Image: ZAAHIER ADAMS Independent Media Unfortunately, fellow South African and SA Open champion Dylan Naidoo was left a little bit more frustrated after an erratic opening round Starting on the back nine, and playing with two-times DP World Tour winner Jordan Smith and Scotland's Calum Hill, Naidoo shot out of the blocks with birdies on the 12th, 15th, first, fourth and seventh holes to sit amongst the leaders at four-under-par with three holes remaining.
