Friday, 3rd August 2007 at 5:39 pm

The return of Ulrich van der Bergh

Here’s a feelgood Friday story for you… When Ulrich van der Bergh lost out to Ernie Els at the dunhill championship after a final round collapse at Leopard Creek in 2005, he took it rather badly; so much so that he quit the game entirely for seven months, his life as a professional golfer seemingly over.

But after a long period of introspection, Van der Bergh did what everyone in South African golf fervently hoped he would, and brought an exceptional natural talent back to the course. And on a Friday in Bloemfontein he’ll never forget, Van der Bergh kept his overnight lead to claim the Vodacom Origins of Golf title, a rich reward for a man who overcame formidable psychological hurdles to get back in the game.

How much a catalyst this win is for Van der Bergh will be seen as the rest of the season unfolds; for now, he’s more than vindicated his decision to return to the game, and cuts a vastly different figure to the one who collapsed at Leopard Creek. Feverpitcher spoke briefly to Van der Bergh in Bloemfontein on Thursday evening (we do get around), and there seemed to be genuine enjoyment in his eyes; with winning golf in hand once more, it’s not hard to understand why.