Antalya’s crystal blue sea water is undeniably intoxicating, especially for Dylan Naidoo who was born in Lenasia – south of Soweto on Johannesburg’s West Rand – but the South African Open champion is not just here to take in the idyllic surroundings.
The Turkish Airlines Open is back on the DP World Tour for the first time since 2019 and its gathered an impressive field, including European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald and vice-captain Edoardo Molinari, two-times DP World Tour winner Jordan Smith, Chinese star Haotong Li and fellow South African Jacques Kruyswijk.
Naidoo has therefore been preparing in his trademark meticulous fashion for the past two days to acclimatise himself with course’s pristine greens and fairways. He has been paired with England’s Smith and Scotland’s Calum Hill.
[Music] [Applause] [Music] Welcome to the Indie Sport Show. Z Adams here in Antalya with South African Open Champion Dylan. How you doing, mate? Good, thanks. The news, are you? Oh, very well. Very well. Uh tell him, just tell us the surroundings, mate. I mean, it’s splendid out here, isn’t it? Yeah, it’s unbelievable. I mean, it’s my first time in Turkey. It’s uh it’s been phenomenal so far. I mean, the hotel Regnum has just been so good. It’s probably the best hotel I think I’ve ever stayed in. So, it’s Sunset doesn’t want to hear that. But yeah, it’s ah it’s the weather’s great. The golf course is is phenomenal, and it’s it’s just such a nice event so far. And just uh I mean, it really has been it’s such a such an event out here in Antalya. Um what’s life been like as an SA Open champion? It’s been amazing. Yeah. I mean, life has kind of uh switched on me, you know, done a 360. It’s I’ve had so much support and so much, you know, uh so many people reach out, which has been cool. But at the same time, now I’m a DP World Tour winner. So, I’m I’m out here on the DP World Tour playing in all these events and, you know, it’s it’s been such an amazing learning opportunity. So obviously all the fanfare and the the emotion that went with that, but the big thing is that being a deep into a winner, it sets you up on for various other events now, doesn’t it? For sure. I mean, first of all, I’ve I’ve got winners categories. So I’ve got I’m getting into all the events this year, which is that’s why you’re here, basically. Amazing. Yeah, exactly. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the SA Open. So I’m uh I’m into all the events for this year, including all the Rolex Series events, you know, Scottish Open and and the British Open, too, which is amazing through SAO Open. Um and uh also into next season, too. So, it’s uh yeah, it’s it’s such a a change from what I was expecting the year to be like, you know. Yeah. And I mean, it didn’t just change on the course. I I presume it would have changed off the course as well and the emotion that goes with it. And we know the the history, the significance of you winning SA Open. Um just when you had a bit of time and you sat back and you went through that phone of yours and you checked the messages, what was the one that left the biggest impact? You know it was there was so many people and honestly uh first firstly it was all all the family all the all the friends everyone who you know I haven’t heard some people I haven’t heard from in 10 15 years or sending messages who have watched me on TV some of the prize money thankfully not but uh yeah I mean it was amazing to get a a message from uh Gayton McKenzie the sports minister that was that was really cool and Gary player gave me a call too which was really really nice of him that they both didn’t have to do that and uh you know it it just shows because the the scope that golf has, you know, it’s bigger than I could even imagine sometimes. And you mentioned Gate Mackenzie and the minister and he’s quite active now with Golf RSA and that’s the program that that pull you through if if I’m not mistaken. Uh just how important is it to develop the next batch of young golfers? For sure. You know, it’s uh it’s something I’m very passionate about. I’m I’m on the players committee on the Sunshine tour and and I’m also involved you know in in transformation and uh it’s been uh it’s been a pleasure to you know be a part of these conversations and now you know not being someone who’s uh who’s involved as actively hopefully I can be a voice kind of more from the outside which is a bit better you know rather than like making policies for yourself it doesn’t people don’t want to listen to you when it when it’s going to affect you you know so yeah I’m really I’m really looking forward to still being a part of those conversations and the winning the USA Open and and all the significance and but now going forward, do do you feel there’s a mark on your back? There’s extra pressure. I’m playing for 56 million people. I’m not just playing for myself anymore. No, I I’m still just playing for myself, you know. I still I love golf so much and this is my my profession, my passion, my my love, and it’s what I’ve always wanted to do. And to be on a stage that that uh is as big as the DP World Tour, it’s really special. And uh talking about the DP World Tour and the Turkish Airlines Open where we are right now. Um just have you had a feel about the Greens? Have you What’s it like? What’s the course like? Course is great. It’s in it’s in immaculate condition. It’s uh it’s actually very um kind of it we you weave through the trees. There’s a couple water hazards here and there. It’s not uh one of the wider courses, but it’s it’s lovely to play. It’s the greens are so pure and uh it’s in honestly immaculate condition. And we saw you preparing early on uh quite meticulous. You get you’ve got all the gadgets, you got all you know and just uh how important is the the preparation and in terms of when you tee off uh on Thursday that you in prime net? Yeah, I think uh for me it’s about clarity. Um I’ve always been someone who if I can, you know, if I can take all the information and distill it and filter it into something that’s like a very meaningful game plan, then it’s that’s when I play my best golf, you know. Um, and I think I’ve been doing that quite well the last, you know, a couple months and I think that’s why it showed in my results. We saw you having a little challenge there with your good mate Juvie. He’s he’s certainly one for all the tech. Um, just what’s that relationship and how important it is to see a full crop. We see Robin Williams on the tour as well. So to have this new batch of golfers who in South Africa who are starting to make a mark, for sure. I mean, I’ve known Eurovv since he was a kid. So it’s it’s quite special to have him at this event. you know, and he’s got his card for next season on the DP Walter. So, it’s going to be nice to be able to travel with them. But, uh, yeah, you know, it’s, uh, it’s it’s amazing to see, and we’ve had kind of this this massively talented, hardworking, great group of guys coming through, and I think we’ve all spurred each other on, which is which is what you want. And again, we hear, what are your immediate goals this week? We What is a good finish this week for you? I’m not so worried about the result of where I finish. I think it’s more for me if I can uh you know have complete clarity on every single shot. If I can believe in myself and you know I’ve been doing a little bit too much like comparison with myself and other players lately and so I’m really looking forward to just really being in my own bubble focusing on myself and and let’s see where that takes me. If I win I win. If I miss a cut I miss the cut. It is what it is. Just a byproduct of We want to see you for four days. We here for four days. We want to see you here for four days. And next up what’s what’s next for for Dylan? Yeah, it’s a busy stretch. Um we’ve got three events in a row after this which is um first it’s the Sudal Open uh in Belgium and then it’s the um Alpine Austrian Open uh and followed by the KM Open which are all three you know really nice tournaments in Europe. Um you know KLM is a little bit of extra significance for me because Papua won that three times. So that’s uh something that I’ve always wanted to play and you know it’s a little bit uh not not everyone has has those feelings about the tournament but for me it’s really special just you you you mentioned him and and it’s almost like he’s intensely linked to you. It’s the Dutch Open now that you’re going to and and obviously the SA Open and the Natal Open just in terms of that legacy that he left for you. What would your what would you want to leave for the next generation? you know, Papua has always been someone who I’ve looked up to my whole life. Um, you know, people are some people are concerned that uh it’s uh, you know, too much of a comparison, but I really welcome it. It’s such an honor. You know, he’s someone who I’ve I’ve always had very strong feelings about, and it’s a story that as players of color in South Africa, we’re here, you know, from the time we’re growing up. And so, um, yeah, I I feel very, uh, very positive about that connection. And you know, for the next generation, it’s about um for me, it’s just playing the best golf I can and hopefully I can inspire someone going forward. It certainly seems there’s plenty on your on your plate on and off the golf course. How does Dylan now do stay calm? What does he What does he do away from the golf course? Uh for for my sins, I’m a I’m a big Arsenal fan. So, thank you for handing over the title. Yeah. Yeah. We been celebrating that for a long time. So, yeah. So, for for me, I love that. Uh it’s it’s an amazing community. It’s I love the tactics. I love the transfers. I love the football and it’s been it’s been such a lovely ride, you know, as Arsenal supporter. There you go. That’s Dylan Naidu. He we’ll leave him to his golf and commiserating with his gunners for for a while. This is Z Adams for the Indie Sport Show with Danu. Thank you so much. Heat. Heat. [Applause] N. Heat. Heat. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]
