8-Year-Old South African Golf Prodigy Heads to US for World Champs

An eight-year-old South African golfing phenomenon from Athlone on the Cape Flats in Cape Town, will be heading to the USA to compete in the Kids Golf World Championship in North Carolina this week.

Traigh Pathon will join more than 1,400 kids from around the world. They’re all aged 12 and under… and they’re all after the most prestigious title in kids’ golf!

Traigh’s not new to international competitions – he came seventh in the Malaysia Kids Open, and in May this year he tied ninth at the Euro Kids Champs in Scotland.

Traigh’s dad, David van Schalkwyk, will accompany him to the US on a trip sponsored by Turkish Airlines. He thanked the airline for recognising Traigh’s potential and said without them, his son wouldn’t have been able to play internationally.

With a dad who’s a caddie, it’s no surprise Traigh hit his first golf ball when he was only 14-months-old and played his first full round of golf at the tender age of four.

Traigh is the youngest member of the prestigious Royal Cape Golf Club in Cape Town and is considered one of the world’s most promising young golfers.

Q&A with Traigh Pathon:

1) Who taught you to play golf?
My dad, YouTube videos, Kurt Stripp – I did group lessons with him every Saturday when I was 4 years old, and now, my coach Keagan Beyer.

2) Who’s the best golfer in your family?
Me!

3) Can you keep up with your dad?
Sometimes I let him win.

4) Are you a better putter or a better driver?
Putter.

5) Have you ever had a hole-in-one?
Not yet, but I have come very close.

6) What is it about golf that you enjoy so much?
I love seeing the ball go into the hole.

7) When you’re competing, what do you focus on?
I play against the course I’m playing – focus on doing my best and having fun.

8) Which pro golfer do you emulate?
I think different ones at different times but I do like Justin Thomas – he’s small but pound for pound he’s one of the longest on tour.

9) Which four players would you like to play with?
Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson and Gary Player.

10) Is being on tour scary or exciting?
It usually starts off exciting but gets scary if I do well, the boys are very big and I have to really focus to do well and putt well. Your short game is important.

11) Do you enjoy other sports besides golf?
Yes, athletics and cross country

12) Which is your favourite golf course?
I was lucky to visit St. Andrews but I also love the Royal Cape and The River Club

13) Top 3 tips for winning in golf?
Head down
Finish high and
Every shot counts.

Q&A with Traigh’s parents:

1) The secret to raising a golf prodigy?
Invest in them when young – we took Traigh for swimming lessons and baby gym. Keep ensuring they believe they can achieve anything and that nothing is impossible.

2) Traigh’s most memorable win?
US Qualifier in February 2018 – two day tournament. Second place was 8 shots behind Traigh.

3) Traigh’s most significant golf title?
Top 10 in European Kids Open (9th) and Malaysia Kids Open (7th)

4) How does Traigh stay calm and focused for international trips? Does he have a ritual like most athletes do before a big competition?
Early to bed. Eat lots of almonds and pasta. He also listens to fight songs in the morning.

5) What is it like to keep up with the financial side of things – the kit, the club fees, etc?
Very hard, golf is an expensive sport – we can’t always afford it but we try and keep up with what we can. Since he started playing we’ve bought him second hand clubs. Last Christmas we bought him his first set after saving for a while. We are so thankful to Turkish Airlines for sponsoring our trip to Scotland as well as America, without them Traigh would not have been able to play internationally this year.

6) Top 3 tips for golf parents?
Keep it fun, invest your time as a parent – money and material things are less important. Be patient.

7) What’s next for Traigh?
Ensuring that he keeps having fun and enjoying the sport. In 2019 we hope to compete in more regional country tours – he will be 9 and playing 18 holes. He is also currently playing for the Western Province team and we hope he will move into the A Team soon.

The USA Kids Golf World Championship will take place from 2-4 August at the famous Pinehurst Club.