When Heinrich Bruiners sees his name on the Stella Artois Players Championship trophy as the defending champion at Randpark Golf Club this week, it’s going to remind him of something he’s spent the past year and seven months trying to rediscover.
Bruiners’ victory in this event last year, when it was played at Dainfern, was the second of his Sunshine Tour career, but his first over 72 holes. That alone was a huge mental breakthrough for him – to know he has what it takes to win a 72-hole tournament.
But it sparked a desire in him to seek even more improvement in his game. And with it, Bruiners says he took his eye off the most important element of his own game.
“I reached such a high when I won this tournament last year. But then I got a bit lost in my search for improvement. I’ve gone through so many changes. I changed the way I played to match the equipment that I wanted to use, whereas now I’m getting back to what I do naturally and the equipment that suits me.
"Whenever I’ve played my best has been when I’ve felt like I’m expressing who I am through my golf,” Bruiners said ahead of Thursday’s first round.
“I’m actually trying to work my way back to what I was using equipment-wise and doing before. I think I just need to get back to what’s familiar for me. It’s so competitive out here and everybody else is getting better. I just need to find my way back to what I know is right for me.”
And that’s why Bruiners feels this week and the good memories it will bring back are so important to him.
“Sometimes you get to a point where you need to accept what you’ve got is good enough. I think I was just constantly searching a bit too much to get to the next level.
"Regardless of the outcome this week, it’s going to be nice to see the trophy again and bring back the memories of that win, and to see my name as a past winner. I feel like this tournament is a turning point for me again to move back in the right direction.
"I’ve got the goods in me to do it. I just need to stay true to who I am. I lost that a bit.”
It also helps that the tournament has moved to Randpark Golf Club, where Bruiners has equally good memories of almost winning the DP World Tour co-sanctioned Joburg Open when he finished in the top-10 in 2021.
“I’ve had a few good tournaments at Randpark. I’ve got so many good feelings there.”