Spaniard with hot putter leads Joburg Open

Angel Hidalgo, a bubbly little Spaniard working some sub-par magic with his putter, took the R17,5-million Joburg Open first round lead on Thursday on Randpark’s Firethorn course with a six-under-par 65.

“I only had 24 putts today, which for 18 holes of golf is pretty amazing,” said the smiling 23-year-old in his post-round interview.

“I was pretty nervous at the start of my round today and, to be honest, I’m pretty nervous standing in front of you guys. I’m not used to this kind of thing because it’s been three years since I’ve played an event on the main tour and I wasn’t putting so well a few days ago, yet today it was like everything was dropping in. I’m not complaining though and what a great start to the new season for me,” he exclaimed.

The Joburg Open is the first stop in the new season - the rebranded 2022 European Tour which is now called the DP World Tour.

It will in the next 12 months have more tournaments, more prize-money and will visit more countries than ever before.

After a chilly, windy and overcast start to the day, the sun finally came out in the afternoon but at 5.05pm play was stopped for the day because of the threat of lightning with South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence also at six-under for the round but with one hole, the par-four ninth, left for him to play.

Five players finished their day on four-under 67 – South Africans Dylan Frittelli and Hennie du Plessis, and Hidalgo’s fellow Spaniards Pep Angles and Alfredo Garcia-Heredia.

South Africa’s Zander Lombard and Italy’s Lorenzo Scalise were also at four under, but both – like Lawrence – had one hole to play when play was stopped.

Frittelli, the only player in the field with a PGA Tour title to his name – the 2019 John Deere Classic – admitted to a touch of jet-lag after posting his 67, as he only flew in from America on Monday night.

“Today wasn’t that easy out there so I’m very happy to have dipped four under," he said. "I was smashing my drives and I hit a lot of good iron shots out there.”

On the PGA Tour this year Frittelli gained more distance – 19 yards - with his tee-shots than any other player.

“Lots and lots of physical work in the gym has made me stronger than ever and my swing is so much faster,” he explained.

“I’m ready to give it full tilt off the tee for the next 54 holes. And a long putt today helped my cause. I holed a 45-footer for par at No 7 and I don’t think I’ve rolled one in from that far all year on tour.”

Dean Burmester, who has had a very successful 2021 both home and abroad – and fellow big-hitting South African Wilco Nienaber weren’t at the best Thursday.

Burmester shot one-over 72 and Nienaber level-par 71.

Still, Wilco did hit some huge drives. It’s a cliché, yes, but – as one spectator put it after witnessing one of these monster hits – “I don’t go on holiday that far.”