George, South Africa

Goosen keen to recapture 2005 Links magic at 2008 GPI

Double US Open champion Retief Goosen arrived in South Africa this week hoping that a victory in this weekend’s Gary Player Invitational, presented by Coca-Cola, at The Links at Fancourt can help him regain his form.
Goosen joins an illustrious list of golfers, celebrities and businessmen in a tournament hosted by the Grand Slam champion and aimed at raising money for underprivileged children.
And as much as Goosen supports the charitable side of this event, the South African is just as determined to win.

“We all understand that this tournament is about charity. But I can tell you that when we tee off on the weekend, I’ll be out to win,” said Goosen, who has spent most of the year trying to adjust to various swing changes he’s made.

A victory in Friday’s pro-am of this event, with a round of six-under-par 67, and the good memories of beating Ernie Els to win the 2005 South African Open on this course will certainly boost his confidence.

“This is a great golf course. It will be tough. If the weather plays along it’s going to be a nice course to play. But if the weather gets bad, this can be a pretty tough track,” said Goosen.

Olympic swimmer Roland Schoeman is amongst the celebrities invited to compete in this tournament. Schoeman said on Friday he’d love nothing better than to wake up on New Year’s Day 2009 and be a scratch golfer because, “I think there’s a heck of a lot more money to be made in golf than in swimming”.

Schoeman also paid tribute to tournament host, Gary Player.

“As a boy all you heard was Gary Player this and Gary Player that. I’ve had a chance to meet and talk to him a number of times and he’s such a wonderful man. He’s an absolute ambassador for this country. We need more role models like him,” Schoeman said.

“The sad thing about this country is that we have people who bicker and moan about the state of affairs but aren’t willing to make an active change in this country. We need people that are investing time, money and energy here.

“We need an event like this golf tournament that is helping out charities. We need to help the youth of this country, otherwise we’re looking at a dismal state of affairs.”

Professional Garth Mulroy secured the last spot in this event with victory at the Coca-Cola Championship hosted by Gary Player at the Outeniqua course on Thursday.

The Sunshine Tour number two matched Goosen’s 67 despite playing the course for the first time.

Lali Stander
Media Manager
Gary Player Invitational
Tel: +27 82 990 7150
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