Kuala Lumpur: South African star Charl Schwartzel enjoyed a pro-am round at the Maybank Malaysian Open on Wednesday in the regal company of the Queen of Malaysia and he hopes it will provide the impetus for him to be crowned king of the event.
The 2011 Masters Tournament champion was delighted and honoured to play with Her Majesty, Tuanku Hajah Haminah bt Hamidun at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, saying “we had some fun out there.”
“Her Majesty is a fantastic lady and we had a great time. She’s a good player. The golf course is pretty long for her but she hits it nicely. She was very friendly and we had some fun,” said Schwartzel ahead of the US$2.75 million showpiece which is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.
The South African is among an elite cast which includes world number three Luke Donald, multiple Major winner Padraig Harrington, 2011 Maybank Malaysian Open winner Matteo Manassero and Asia’s leading stars including Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, Gagajeet Bhullar and Jeev Milkha Singh of India, Liang Wen-chong of China and Bangladeshi Siddikur.
Schwartzel, ranked 17th in the world, hopes his third straight visit to the Maybank Malaysian Open will be a lucky one. He finished sixth last year which was his best result in the tournament.
“As long as you play well each round and not do what I did last year - shoot a bad one, you’ll be up there. You need to keep ticking over and shoot three or four under every day to have a chance on Sunday. I just want to play consistently, as I have been doing, and give myself a chance. It would be very nice to lift the trophy,” said Schwartzel, who ended his 2012 season by winning the Thailand Golf Championship and Alfred Dunhill Championship on home soil.
He knows a win in Malaysia will be the ideal preparation for him to reclaim his title at the Masters Tournament next month.
“I don’t like to put a lot of expectation on myself because it creates a lot of anxiety. I know I’m playing well and if I play the way I have been, then I can compete in any golf tournament. There are so many good players out there you’re not going to win every week, but if you’re there every week you’re going to break through more often,” he said.
“It’s the same thing for the Masters. I don’t have to prove myself because I’ve won there. I know if I play the way I can play then I’ll definitely be competing. That’s the aim.”
Italian sensation Manassero, who hopes to replicate his winning performance at the 2011 Maybank Malaysian Open, tipped his hat to Malaysian amateur Gavin Kyle Green, who he played with in the pro-am and is paired with in the opening two rounds.
“He’s a really nice guy and plays really well. He’s got a strong game and it was nice for me to play with a very good amateur in the pro-am. But it was better for him to get to know me and maybe take a little bit of pressure off tomorrow. We spoke about the course and strategies. He hits it 40 yards further than me so he doesn’t need much advice!”
At the age of 19, Manassero has won three European Tour titles but he does not want to be compared to current world number one Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who he defeated to become the youngest Maybank Malaysian Open champion in 2011.
“I wouldn’t compare myself to Rory. I wouldn’t want to at all – we’re very, very different. But I expect to improve. It’s obviously been great since I turned professional and I’ve achieved things year after year without stopping, which isn’t easy. If I win another event this year, it’ll be another great year. It’s very early in my career and, while I must be proud of what I’ve done, I want to keep improving.”
