Charl Schwartzel has played down his chances of joining an exclusive European Tour club at this week’s Alfred Dunhill Championship.
Victory at Leopard Creek Country Club would be the former Masters Tournament winner’s third in a row at this event – something only five players have achieved on The European Tour.
Ian Woosnam, Sir Nick Faldo, Colin Montgomerie, Tiger Woods and Ernie Els are the impressive list of players with title hat-tricks to their name, but Schwartzel – who also won the Alfred Dunhill Championship in 2005 – admits his game is not as sharp as it might be after recently becoming a father.
“It would be nice to win three in a row, but my expectations are not too high,” said the 30 year old.
“It would be a good feat to accomplish, but I’m a long way from that at the moment.
“It’s great to be back at Leopard Creek and this place does seem to do something to my game, so I’m really hoping that’s the case once again.
“The tournament has been really good to me - that was my first win, my breakthrough win [in 2005]. Those are the sort of ones that you’ll never forget.
“There’s something about the place that every time I come back, even if I’m playing badly, it seems to treat me really well.
“Becoming a dad this year has been unbelievable. Golfing-wise it hasn’t been a great year, but in my personal life things have been fantastic. I’d like it to happen for me in the tournament this week, but if it doesn’t I’m still in a fantastic place.”
