Getty Images Wallie Coetsee tees off on the second hole during the third round of the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.Down-to-earth, happy-go-lucky Wallie Coetsee, the kind of person who relates well to all and sundry and warms to the galleries, held on to his overnight lead and goes into the final round of the Joburg Open at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington on Sunday two strokes clear of his nearest rivals on an otherwise congested leaderboard.
“There’s so much at stake – big-money, a British Open spot and the European Tour card if I win,” said the 42-year-old after rolling in a tricky six-footer for birdie, accompanied by a fist-pump, at the East Course’s closing hole yesterday.
“But I can’t get ahead of myself. I just have to stay calm and stay patient and see what happens (today).”
The closing birdie gave him a two-under-par 70 for the day and a 54-hole tournament aggregate of 14-under 201.
Four players – England duo Steve Webster (who shot a brilliant day’s best 65) and David Howell (68), and SA pair Jacques Blaaaw (67) and Tjaart van der Walt 71) – are two off the pace on 203, with no less than nine players, including defending champion George Coetzee, just one shot further back.
It’s already well-documented by now, but two-and-a-half years ago, Coetsee walked away from a busy paint contracting business in Tzaneen and moved with his family to Jeffreys Bay in search of a simpler lifestyle.
He credits the good golf he is playing as a result of that move, and last year he won the Zambia Open – 17 years on from his previous victory in the 1997 Namibia Open.
Now he leads a fully-fledged European Tour event, which, if he wins, will change his life from a stay-at-home professional to a globe-trotter playing for huge prize money all over the world.
So, was he nervous at the start of his round yesterday?
“You know, on the first hole (a par-five) I hit a great drive, and a great second on to the green. No worries there. But then when I picked up my putter, I had no feel and I three-whacked. But that was like a wake-up call. After that my caddie Pat Mfihlo and I said to each other, ‘it’s just a game and let’s go and have some fun’.”
And fun they did have on the tough back nine, with Coetsee rolling in birdies at 11, 12 and 13 and making two good up-and-downs for par at 14 and 15. He dropped a shot at 16 but the birdie on 18 put a smile on his face.
Coetsee can’t say enough about his bag-man. “Pat used to be based at Fancourt, where he spent 14 years and was the caddie master. But about six months ago, I stole him and we’ve developed such a great relationship.
“That closing birdie will help kick-start my round tomorrow and I’ll also sleep easier tonight because last night I only slept for about four hours. I’ve driven the ball well all week and hit some great iron shots. I just need the putter going tomorrow. Pat’s been a great help with club selection and we’re really good friends. The fans here have been great, giving me plenty of encouragement which certainly helps with the golf,” said Coetsee yesterday.
The stress-free lifestyle in J-Bay, Coetsee insists, is precisely why he’s playing so well. The family don’t even have a television. “When we moved, we decided to get rid of the TV. So if my young daughters Zoe and Kelly wanted to watch me on the box yesterday, I hope my wife Ashley took them to a friend’s place!”
Asked about leading one of South Africa’s biggest events, which also has three places in the Open Championship at St Andrews up for grabs, the 42-year-old added: “Somebody must wake me up; it feels like a dream. It would be great (to qualify for the Open), but that is a big bonus. First thing is to wake up tomorrow and enjoy this ride.”
Of Coetsee’s close challengers, Blaauw said the key for him was starting his round with four straight birdies and then picking up another shot at the sixth hole.
“I was very happy with the start but unfortunately couldn’t keep it going and played the next 12 holes in level par. But I’m happy to be on 12-under and just two off the pace. It’s a congested leaderboard and if you want to win, you’re going to have to go out and shoot low.”
Defending champion Coetzee said: “I think the people who walked with me got to see some shots. But I’m happy to have held it together and posted a good number. No one really pulled away today and the game’s on for tomorrow.”
Webster’s bogey-free 65 included seven birdies – a superb effort on a demanding lay-out often referred to as “East the Beast”.
Van der Walt is upbeat about his chances today, but acknow-ledges that the tournament is wide open.
“Everyone is bunched up. Let’s just see who can do the business,” he said.