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With a win on each of the DP World and PGA Tours, and that next level moustache, Erik Van Rooyen has become one of the most recognisable players on tour. Daily News caught up with the 31-year-old South African, who enjoyed T25 and T20 finishes in Hawaii before heading to the Middle East, to discover more about the man behind the improving golf game and those well-groomed whiskers.
Especially if I compare it to where I was at this time of the year 12 months ago, there’s been a lot of growth that’s happened the last five months. I’m definitely a lot more comfortable in tournaments like that [the PGA Tour events in Hawaii], playing against strong fields. I think people underestimate the value of experience in this game. For the last three years that my caddie has been with me, we’ve only played three courses where we’ve seen the golf course for a second time. A course like the Sony O-pen [T20], to see it for a second time around I think that experience we had was invaluable and a solid start to 2022.
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Goals in 2022? Honestly, I haven’t really written anything down. I think sometimes when you write things down like that you can almost limit yourself. I don’t have say, for example, a set amount of times that I’d like to win or a specific tournament that I’d like to win. I think every single time that I tee up, my goal is to win that tournament. Obviously that doesn’t always happen but that’s just the mindset I’m in.
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The two previous times that I’ve been around this golf course, to be honest with you, I’m a different player now than I was back in 2019 [T119] and 2020 [T37]. My game’s of a much higher level…I’m a much better driver of the ball now. This is a course that demands good driving and at the same time, if you don’t drive it well, it demands a strong short game. The greens are relatively small with some really good bunkering and it will literally test every facet of your game.
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I would absolutely love to lift this trophy. I love this golf course even though I haven’t quite delivered the goods yet but I love a challenge. I’ve always been one to enjoy a good challenge. I feel like when my back is against the wall, I have the type of game, and it’s just in my nature to do my best and to deliver the goods when it matters most. Maybe this is the year.
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I grew up in a house where music was always around. My aunt and my uncle both studied music at university, my uncle is a guitar player and my aunt plays the piano and sings. Rock and roll was always in the house, anything from the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, to Mark Knopfler and Neil Young. My mum was a bit more into classical music but I guess I always wanted to play guitar.
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When I was 14 and beginning high school, I finally picked one up and pretty much taught myself. In brief, I absolutely love music and playing the guitar brings me great joy. But I am not sure there is a stage career beckoning after golf. I have got dreams of playing with my favourite bands on stage but I guess we will have to see if that ever happens.
Erik Van Rooyen and Chris Kirchner The CEO of Slync.io (right) plant a young Gaff Tree beside the 18th tee. Getty Images
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I have a travel guitar. It actually folds up into a backpack and it’s still got a lovely sound. The neck sort of detaches from the body so it fits into a nice travel size backpack.
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I guess I am more of a bodyboarder, it runs in my family, we’re all sort of surfers. The best breaks I have ridden was Supertubes and J-Bay in South Africa. I mean absolute world class surf break but you know I definitely don’t get too much time to do it while on tour.
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Will I keep the moustache? I think that remains to be seen. I love a good solid beard as you all know. My wife actually prefers the beard as well. But she’s been trying to kind of nudge me in the direction of shaving it off, but for now it’s staying. And about keeping it looking so on point, honestly, I think a lot of that is just natural talent and genes to be honest! I tend to brush it every morning though with a comb. I have little pair of scissors that I trim it with…no one wants to see a piece of cheese hanging down from your stash. So you’ve got to keep it from hanging down the lip, brush it sideways and give it a little bit of twist. That’s the secret guys.
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I think the biggest lesson for me after winning the Barracuda Championship was that I was in a bit of a hole at that point, and I struggled, so looking back it’s just you never know when the sparks come back and when it’s going to turn around. So, I guess, never lose faith or hope in your abilities because what got you there in the first place, that’s exact same stuff that’s going to help you win again.
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I think it’s unfortunate for spectators that they only show a handful of players. I understand obviously that they do that for the TV ratings, but there are so many good and exciting players on PGA Tour and here on the DP World Tour and it’s a pity that they don’t get more coverage. But yeah, it’s hard, everyone is good, everyone knows how to get the ball in the hole, and I think especially on the PGA Tour, guys just keep making birdies. You have to keep the pedal down if you want to win, and that’s what makes it so competitive, so difficult.
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I am a tireless worker, and to be honest, I personally think you can not say that someone has got all the talent. Every single person out here has worked tirelessly to get where they are. Some of us work harder than others, and I definitely put myself in that category. I try and squeeze out every ounce of the day and every ounce of ability that I have. Talent can only get you so far. There is no substitute for hard work.
