IT HAS only been a little over two weeks now since a single golf shot won him a brand new 2018 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado valued at close to US$100 000 in Kenya.
BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE
But for seasoned Zimbabwean professional golfer Ryan Cairns it still feels as if it’s just a nice dream he will eventually wake up from.
Cairns became the first man in the history of the KCB Karen Masters to win a hole-in-one car after finding the cup from 217 metres out with a single shot on July 19.
The talented Royal Harare Golf Club resident professional had already been enjoying one of his best years on the Sunshine Tour this season and the recent feat could have been the tonic he needed going forward.
As for the shot that won him the Toyota Prado, he still has no idea where it came from.
“The hole in one in Nairobi at the KCB Karen Masters two weeks ago was a true game changer and one which I am extremely thankful for,” Cairns told The Sports Hub in an exclusive interview.
“It was a well struck shot but as with all hole in ones, finding the cup from over 200 metres brings with it a fair portion of luck. That was my lucky day and on its third bounce, the ball disappeared. It was an incredible feeling and owning a brand new Toyota Prado feels like I still haven’t woken up from one amazing dream,” Cairns went on.
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The 34-year-old has been a professional golfer since 2005 and has two professional wins outside the country, one of which came on the Sunshine Tour in 2012 when he clinched the Vodacom Origins of Golf at Simola Golf and Country Estate with a final-round 62.
Earlier in the year Cairns, who also boasts of several wins on the local professional circuit, won the JM Busha Pro-Am Invitational at Chapman Golf Club.
Interestingly Cairns’ purple patch on tour started when he tied the knot with the love of his life Engelize last year, something he could not deny.
He believes there is more to his performance than just the support from his wife.
At the start of the year Cairns together with his friends, who include the former Zimbabwe international cricketer Stuart Carlisle, Alistair Carlisle and his dad Terry Cairns, brought South Africa’s largest golf equipment superstore, The Pro Shop franchise, to Zimbabwe after signing a 10-year lease at Royal Harare Golf Club.
“Performance is definitely linked to the support of my wife and family, as well as the ‘feel-good’ atmosphere created through our new Pro Shop business which opened at Royal Harare a few months ago. My business partners, staff and customers make going to work every day an absolute pleasure for me,” revealed the golfer, who is also a keen musician.
“I have been playing better this season and when you play better on tour, it is definitely more enjoyable. The other end of the ‘performance spectrum’ is pretty unpleasant, which is why I always appreciate the good times when they roll around,” Cairns said.
Having already secured his Sunshine Tour card for next year, Cairns is looking to win again on the tour before April 2019.
After his experience in Kenya, he has more reason to believe that all things are indeed possible.
“Now that solid foundations have been laid in this new season, my aim is to win again on the Sunshine Tour before April 2019. So much of this game at professional level is based around survival, whether it be surviving the cut-line or keeping hold of your tour card at the end of a season. In a situation like mine, I am blessed to have secured my card for next season and now can play more freely to get that next win. Why not? ” he said.
