Otto rises to the challenge at Glendower
Otto teed off on August 26 at Glendower Golf Course after the recent death of his wife, and as a father rising up for his two sons.
When three-time European Tour champion Hennie Otto teed off at the start of the African Bank Sunshine Tour Championship, he did so rising to the challenge, looking for the next win of his career.
Otto teed off on August 26 at Glendower Golf Course after the recent death of his wife, and as a father rising up for his two sons.
“It’s been tough. It’s hard losing your wife. But you can’t sit still. You have to move on,” said Otto.
After his wife’s death, Otto took his sons, Hennie Jnr. and JJ, on a 4 500km road trip around South Africa for the three of them to deal with the loss.
“We visited all our friends on farms. We needed that, just to getaway. It was nice for us to bond like that, and the boys are in a good space now.” And at the end of that epic journey, they have arrived at a new adventure. A new beginning.
“We’re moving to Paarl because I have a great support system there with my family. The boys are in good schools there, and I can focus on my golf.”
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Glendower has always been a favourite of Otto’s. He finished second in the South African Open played here in 2013, and also second in the BMG Classic that same year.
“It”s an old-style golf course and I always get a great feeling playing there,” said Otto. “You have to actually play that golf course and think your way around it, you can’t just bomb it off the tee. If you can get it going there, you can score really well.”
Besides returning to one of his favourite courses, Otto spent the day with his eldest son who caddied for him
“Hennie is a diabetic and our doctor advised me not to send him back to school because of the coronavirus,” explained Otto.
“So he’s doing online schooling but also travelling with me and caddying for me on this Rise-Up Series.”
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