A debut at Jumeirah for Erik Van Rooyen

Erik van Rooyen’s solid rookie season on the European Tour has earned him an opportunity some will only dream of – teeing it up at the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estate, Dubai.

Positioned 37th and as one of top 60 players on the Race to Dubai after last week’s Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player, Van Rooyen qualifies for season-ending event in the United Arab Emirates.

The 28-year-old player who got his European Tour playing card via a fourth-place finish on the Road to Ras Al Khaimah on the Challenge Tour last season, has one runner-up finish at the Joburg Open, four top-ten finishes, four top-20s and six missed cuts in 24 starts in his maiden season as a full member of the European Tour.

His superb season so far is just a continuation from where he left off in 2017 when he won the Eye of Africa PGA Championship on the local circuit. He went on to win the Hainan Open on Challenge Tour as he searched for European Tour playing privileges. He also secured five top-10 finishes while missing four cuts in 21 starts on the Challenge Tour.

He carried that rich form into the new season of the European Tour and despite a disappointing share of 60th last week at the Nedbank Golf Challenge hosted by Gary Player where the results betrayed the effort, Van Rooyen has everything it takes to compete among the elite golfers.

While making it to the final event on the Race to Dubai is no easy feat for any seasoned professional, let alone one in his rookie season, Van Rooyen will be pleased with his effort during the season and will hope for a better finish at this US$8 million event. Dean Burmester, Darren Fichardt, Branden Grace, Dylan Frittelli and Brandon Stone are the other South Africans teeing it up in Dubai this week.

Credit: The Sunshine Tour

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