At 24 years old, Martin Vorster was already making a name for himself as a top South African pro golfer. But late last month, the youngster effectively doubled his career earnings in a single weekend at LIV Golf UK.
Despite finishing well down the leaderboard in 31st position, Vorster bagged approximately R2.45m for his individual effort. He collected another R2.44m thanks to his share of Southern Guards GC’s team prize money.
It was a staggering windfall from a tournament he likely never expected to play. Vorster was flown in as a last-minute replacement for Louis Oosthuizen, who was sidelined by a recurring back injury.
Vorster’s R4.9m payday at LIV Golf UK instantly eclipsed his entire lifetime earnings on the Sunshine Tour, which currently stand at R4.5m. Prior to his trip to the UK, his biggest single cheque was R769,618 at the MyGolfLife Open—a moment where he likely thought he had truly hit the big time.
Vorster Steps Up at LIV Golf Chicago: Teammate Burmester Backs Youngster’s Readiness
Now, the gravy train continues. Vorster gets another crack at the lucrative circuit at LIV Golf Chicago, stepping up once again for his injured mentor.
SGGC teammate Dean Burmester believes the youngster is more than ready for the moment.
“I played nine holes with Martin yesterday and his game looks in really good shape,” Burmester said. “It should be a fun experience for him. I hope he’s excited to put himself to the test against some of the best players in the world.”
Heading into his unexpected debut, Vorster admitted to being a little starstruck by his new surroundings.
“I was just on the range doing my thing, and when I turned around, there was Bryson DeChambeau watching me hit balls,” he recalled. “We introduced ourselves and he said it looked like I could hit it pretty far. I just laughed and told him, ‘I don’t think as far as you!'”
@Michael_Sherman
IOL Sport
