Wilco Nienaber, known for his exceptional driving distance on the DP World Tour, faces a challenging professional golf journey marked by fluctuating rankings and a focus on personal improvement despite setbacks. Photo: AFP
Image: AFP
For one of the longest hitters on the DP World Tour (DPWT) and probably the world, it’s been something of a rollercoaster journey as a professional golfer for Wilco Nienaber.
Regularly ranked among the longest hitters on the DPWT, like in 2023 when he averaged 331 yards off the tee to lead the driving distance rankings, his scores have not followed suit.
Having turned professional back in 2019, he reached a career high of 131st in the world golf rankings two years later.
Since then, though, his results have steadily declined, offset by the odd good performance. In total, he has won twice on the local Sunshine Tour in events that were co-sanctioned with the European Challenge Tour, now called the HotelPlanner Tour.
One of those good showings was an emphatic seven-stroke win at the NTT Data Pro-Am in February last year. That triumph came four years after his first, and since then he’s had another tough season as the 25-year-old now finds himself ranked 481st in the world.
“At times, you or most people measure improvements with results. It doesn't really go that way all the time. Good results obviously show improvement,” Nienaber told IOL in an exclusive interview.
“But if you look at all aspects of the game, if that improves and you're getting a little better every day, that's what you want, that's what I want.
“Personally, last year was a tough year. But this year is a new year. I made a few changes to my team and a few other things. I'm very happy to be able to play golf. There's a lot to be thankful for.”
After a top amateur career in South Africa, which included making the cut at the SA Open in 2018, much was expected of him, especially due to his prodigious length off the tee.
There’s little dispute that golf is one of the most difficult sports to play professionally, and Nienaber echoes that sentiment.
“It's tough. I honestly don't think there's anything tougher to do as a sport. I mean, most sports as a team… this game is brutal. This game never owes you anything, although it feels like it does.”
“But it's brutal, and I guess not taking everything too personally and digging too deep into every bad result or average result, I think is key.
“I think you can get lost in it quite a lot.”
Returning to the Joburg Open last week, which was one of his best finishes for the season, Nienaber began well with a round of five-under 65. However, he battled in the following rounds, shooting level par 70s before a closing one-over 73.
In wet conditions, Nienaber made the most of his length to get off to a good start, but playing at the Jack Nicklaus-designed layout in the heart of Johannesburg was also a place that brought back good memories.
“It's nice. It's a course that obviously over the years you get familiar with. It doesn't really matter where you play.
“You play five-under in the first round, and you're pretty happy.”