Charl Schwartzel talks to Golf World

We caught up with Charl Schwartzel a year ago. You can read the interview here.

Who the heck is Charl Schwartzel? Never heard of him? Well, the South African you’d fight to caddie for right now is not Ernie Els or Retief Goosen, both multiple Major winners. The hottest player on Tour is not new world No.2 Steve Stricker.

The only golfer making more headlines is Tiger Woods – and that has nothing to do with his performances on the golf course. Schwartzel has already won twice this season in consecutive weeks and has his sights set higher. Get used to his name. It’s going to be appearing frequently on leaderboards around the world this year. And remember, it’s Charl, not Charles. That misconception used to irritate him – when he was losing and fighting to get noticed.

But life is sweeter now. It’s easier to be more understanding when you are winning. He’s more comfortable now with his place in the game and is more relaxed at home, too, having recently become engaged. Please be upstanding for the newly crowned King Charl I.

At 5ft 11in and weighing in at just over 10st (180cm and 66kg in new money), his lanky frame has the look of Peter Crouch. And, much like the Tottenham Hotspur and England striker, Schwartzel’s talents are probably underestimated outside those who follow his game closely. But all that is about to change.

The 25 year old is now in his eighth year as a pro having won the English Amateur Open Stroke Play Championship in 2002 and represented his country in the Eisenhower Trophy, the amateur world team championships. On turning professional he was the No.1 player on South Africa’s Sunshine Tour (one of Europe’s satellite tours) from 2005 to 2007.

His recent victories at the Africa Open and Joburg Open took his tally to five, his career earnings to £4.6million and propelled him from 66th in the world at the start of the year to inside the top 40. All of which opens up a new world competing in the stellar tournaments against the best players.

He has qualified for the World Golf Championships and will make his Masters debut in April; a dream come true since he became enthralled with Augusta having watched on TV aged 11 when Nick Faldo hauled in Greg Norman in 1996.

“I am really excited about the coming year,” Schwartzel said. “I have felt this coming for a few months. It’s where I want to be. When my game is on, I don’t have to back off for anyone. I can beat anyone. It’s been pretty special playing the way I have. I don’t have to think much when things are going well.” Schwartzel has found that inner calm on the course – the ‘zone’ that sports psychologists are forever trying to find for a seemingly endless queue of athletes racked by self-doubt. For now, at least, Schwartzel is revelling in golf’s sea of tranquillity.

He is now in demand by the media as success breeds success and his sponsors and manager Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler can see his profile and stock rising. Indeed, when we sat down for our chat early in the week at the Dubai Desert Classic in February, Schwartzel was taking a break between shooting an advertising campaign for his Nike driver as well as sharing the secrets of his accurate driving and long iron play for two magazine instruction features. And doing so with politeness, enthusiasm and co-operation. There is a simple charm about him and a welcome lack of arrogance and ego. A credit to his normal and hardworking upbringing on the farm his father, George, bought after a flirtation with the professional golf circuit in the 1970s.

Schwartzel admits that he prefers the quiet life and does indeed appear shy. His manager Chandler agrees, but points out that he is getting more confident and that it should be remembered that, like Els, Schwartzel’s first language is Afrikaans. Expressing himself off the cuff in English in press conferences is a learning curve. “In the beginning, doing lots more media was difficult,” Schwartzel said. “But the more I do, the more comfortable it is getting.”

Yet Schwartzel doesn’t come across as someone who would be comfortable in and shine in the spotlight. He appreciates this observation but insists he is learning to live with it. One suspects, however, that he will never grow to love it and revel in it. “I’m a quiet guy,” he said. “Brought up on a farm with chickens and cattle. I’m a country boy. I can’t be in a city for too long. I need my space.”

Schwartzel has a home in Manchester, but loves nothing more than losing himself hunting in the South African bush. “But there is a price that comes with success,” he said. “That is what I am working hard for. I don’t mind having all the extra attention.”

Chandler has been preparing his man for the life changes that lie ahead. The founder of the International Sports Management company has had plenty of practice handling Kipling’s twin impostors by guiding the careers of Els, Darren Clarke, Lee Westwood, Paul McGinley, David Howell and Rory McIlroy.

Schwartzel admitted that the South Africans could get insular on Tour just like the Spanish and Swedes and British. Chandler recognises this.

He came through the junior and amateur ranks with Louis Oosterhuizen, who is still his best friend on Tour. “I pointed out to him recently that he is not putting himself about enough in practice rounds to gain extra knowledge,” he said. “So I arranged for Darren (Clarke) to sit down with him to share his experience and to discuss what Charl could do to improve. That has definitely helped.”

But for heroes, Schwartzel has always looked to Els and Nick Price. “My dad used to introduce me to them as a kid when they played Sun City. Oh, Ernie is a legend,” he said.

“If I can match what he has achieved, I will have done well. I dreamed of being world No.1 and winning Majors. I used to play with two balls as a kid and one was Nick Price when he was No.1. I believe I can do it. It’s not impossible.”

It is beginning to dawn on Schwartzel just how good he is and he believes he has what it takes to be part of the new generation of 20 year olds taking the game by storm. Players like Martin Kaymer and Pablo Martin, already winners this season, and McIlroy of course. “For the last few years I have been hovering between 50th and 100th in the world rankings. I have always felt I am better than that,” he said. “My two wins mean I am now going in the right direction.”

Chandler thinks so, too. “It will do him good to play regularly against Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods when he comes back,” he said. “He was so shy three years ago. But he will come out of himself even more this year. It will be a good test of where he is.”

Where he is going, Chandler has no doubt. “I think he’ll be a top-10 player in the world in the next two years. He WILL follow in the footsteps of Ernie and Retief. He’s THAT good.” Remember the name. Just don’t call him Charles.