Dean Burmester is experiencing a special week at home, in front of his people, at a LIV Golf South Africa that has turned Steyn City into a party. And this Friday, after carding a 64 and getting fully into contention, he delivered one of the tournament’s standout lines when recalling what went through his head on the spectacular 17th hole.
It all stemmed from one of the day’s big moments. Burmester appeared at the famous party hole wearing a Bafana Bafana shirt, the name popularly used for South Africa’s men’s national football team, a very recognisable symbol in the country and associated with some of the greatest moments of national unity around sport, especially since the 2010 World Cup.
With that shirt on, and with the crowd completely behind him, Burmester hit one of those shots that turn a tournament upside down. The ball flew straight to the flag and for a few seconds it looked like it might go in. It didn’t, but the South African admits the moment was pure emotional electricity.
“I’ve been dreaming about that moment for about ten days. When the ball came out and I saw it was heading for the flag I thought: please, let it be the right club, let it be the right club. It looked perfect the whole time. In the end it didn’t pick up enough spin“, he explained.
Even so, for him it was one of those memories that stay with you. “Probably one of the top three moments of my career“, he said.
And then came the line that perfectly summed up the level of euphoria in that 17th tee. He was asked what would have happened if the ball had gone in for a hole-in-one and whether he would have had his own “Tshabalala moment”, in reference to the legendary celebration of South Africa’s first goal at the 2010 World Cup. Burmester didn’t hold back: “I hope so. I wouldn’t have done the same celebration as him, because he did it with a lot of class. I think I would have stripped off completely and run down the hole. I would have done something a bit crazier“.
The scene is somewhat extravagant, out of control, the natural consequence of an atmosphere that has even overwhelmed the protagonists themselves. Burmester admitted he’d never experienced anything like it during a round. “I’m having an incredible time. On every tee, down every fairway, on every green, everyone is shouting my name or something that makes me laugh. It’s impossible not to smile out there“, he said.
The South African, moreover, feels this week is something bigger than a tournament. Perhaps that’s where the issue lies and where he has clearly lost a sense of proportion. He talks about national pride, identity and a connection with the public that goes far beyond golf. “It’s incredible to see South Africa united like this behind sport. Bringing LIV here has given us a small taste of what was felt with the Rugby World Cup or the 2010 FIFA World Cup“, he said.
On the strictly sporting side, Burmester is responding. He explained that the key was placing the ball off the tee and taking advantage of the good run of form he’s carrying. “If I give myself enough opportunities, I know I’m going to make birdie putts. My strategy is pretty simple: try to attack every pin and make as many birdies as I can“, he summarised.
That said, neither the great 64 nor the battle for the title seem to override the emotional side. This week for him has something of a collective celebration, a shared event with the crowd, friends and family. And that’s why the 17th hole, with the Bafana Bafana shirt and the delirium in the stands, has already taken on a special dimension.
The ball didn’t go in. There was no hole-in-one. South Africa was left without seeing Burmester naked running across the green. But for a moment, everything was on the verge of erupting
