Nina Caldwell
South African golfer Christiaan Bezuidenhout is one of the best male golfers of his generation from his country. Bezuidenhout, who was born in Delmas, Mpumalanga, has had multiple wins in his homeland and on the DP World Tour. He has also had success on the PGA Tour, with a runner-up finish at The American Express in January 2024.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Christiaan Bezuidenhout |
| Nationality | South African |
| Birthplace | Delmas, Mpumalanga |
| Notable Achievements | Sunshine Tour Rookie of the Year (2016-17), Winner of the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters (2019), Top 50 Official World Golf Ranking (2020), Winner of the Alfred Dunhill Championship (2020) |
| Mentors | Ernie Els |
| Amateur Status | Banned in 2015 due to medication use, turned professional the same year |
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What You'll Learn
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout is from South Africa
- He was born in Delmas, Mpumalanga, near Johannesburg
- Bezuidenhout was poisoned as a toddler after drinking from a can containing rat poison
- He was banned from amateur golf in 2015 due to medication he was taking for anxiety
- He has had multiple wins on the DP World Tour
Christiaan Bezuidenhout is from South Africa
Indeed, Christiaan Bezuidenhout is from South Africa. He was born in Delmas, Mpumalanga, a small town east of Johannesburg. Bezuidenhout is one of the best South African male golfers of his generation, currently playing on the PGA Tour after multiple wins in his homeland and on the DP World Tour.
Bezuidenhout's golfing career began when he joined The Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation, where he learned from "The Big Easy" for six years. In December 2015, he won the Sunshine Tour Q School, and in 2016, he finished runner-up in the BMW SA Open. He continued his success in 2017, placing 5th in the Eye of Africa PGA Championship and the Dimension Data Pro-Am. He was named the 2016-17 Sunshine Tour Rookie of the Year, receiving the Bobby Locke Trophy.
In 2019, Bezuidenhout had notable performances in the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, the Hero Indian Open, and the BMW International Open. He then won the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, earning entry into the 2019 Open Championship. The following year, he won the Dimension Data Pro-Am in South Africa, advancing into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Bezuidenhout's success continued in 2022, with a runner-up finish at the John Deere Classic, securing his place in the 2022 Open Championship. He was also selected for the International team in the 2022 Presidents Cup, winning one match and tying another.
Bezuidenhout's achievements have not gone unnoticed, and he has represented South Africa proudly on the international golf stage.
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He was born in Delmas, Mpumalanga, near Johannesburg
Golfer Christiaan Bezuidenhout was born in Delmas, Mpumalanga, a small town near Johannesburg, South Africa. Bezuidenhout is one of the best South African male golfers of his generation, currently playing on the PGA Tour after multiple wins in his homeland and on the DP World Tour.
Bezuidenhout had a difficult start in life. At the age of two, he was poisoned after drinking from a Coca-Cola can that contained rat poison. He nearly died and subsequently developed a stammer. At the age of four, he was diagnosed with severe anxiety.
Despite these challenges, Bezuidenhout went on to become a successful golfer. In 2015, he won the Sunshine Tour Q School. The following year, he finished runner-up in the BMW SA Open and won the Sun Fish River Challenge on the Sunshine Tour. In 2017, he finished 5th in the Eye of Africa PGA Championship and the Dimension Data Pro-Am. He was named the 2016–17 Sunshine Tour Rookie of the Year and received the Bobby Locke Trophy.
Bezuidenhout has since gone on to achieve numerous accolades on the PGA Tour and the European Tour. He has represented the international team in the Presidents Cup twice, in 2022 and 2024.
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Bezuidenhout was poisoned as a toddler after drinking from a can containing rat poison
Christiaan Bezuidenhout, one of the best South African male golfers of his generation, was poisoned as a toddler after drinking from a can containing rat poison. Bezuidenhout was born and raised in Delmas, Mpumalanga, a small town to the east of Johannesburg. When he was just two years old, he stumbled across what appeared to be a discarded bottle of Coca-Cola while playing with friends. Unbeknownst to him, the bottle had been used to hold rat poison.
Bezuidenhout opened the bottle and took a sip, unknowingly ingesting the poison. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors were able to pump his stomach and remove the poison from his body. However, the incident had a lasting impact on his health. The poison affected his entire nervous system, and he developed a stutter as a long-term effect. This led to struggles with anxiety and depression as he found it difficult to engage in conversations.
Bezuidenhout's speech challenges resulted in him seeking help from speech therapists throughout his teenage years. Additionally, he began taking medication to manage his anxiety at the age of 15. Despite these challenges, Bezuidenhout went on to become a successful golfer, winning multiple tournaments in his homeland and on the DP World Tour. He has also competed on the PGA Tour and represented South Africa in international competitions.
The golfer has been open about his experiences, sharing his story in a 2019 DP World Tour player blog and a 2019 European Tour blog. In these writings, he has detailed the impact of the poisoning incident on his life, including the development of his stutter and the associated anxiety and introversion. Bezuidenhout's resilience and determination to pursue his sporting career despite these challenges make his journey all the more remarkable.
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He was banned from amateur golf in 2015 due to medication he was taking for anxiety
Golfer Christiaan Bezuidenhout was banned from amateur golf in 2015 due to medication he was taking for anxiety. Bezuidenhout, who was born in Delmas, Mpumalanga, South Africa, had a difficult childhood. At the age of two, he ingested rat poison, which led to multiple health issues and, consequently, the need for medication. As a child, Bezuidenhout also struggled with a stutter, which made speaking in social situations challenging and caused him anxiety. To manage this, his doctor prescribed him beta-blockers, which he took for over ten years.
However, Bezuidenhout's golf career took an unexpected turn when, at the 2014 British Amateur tournament, a drug test revealed that his medication contained a banned substance. Unaware that the substance was prohibited, Bezuidenhout was banned from competitive golf for two years. This setback was particularly devastating for Bezuidenhout, as he had deliberately maintained his amateur status to compete for the Eisenhower Trophy in South Africa.
During this difficult time, Bezuidenhout worked tirelessly to clear his name and reduce his ban. He succeeded in getting the ban shortened to nine months and turned professional in early 2015. Despite the challenges he faced, Bezuidenhout persevered and fought his way back into competitive golf. He focused on his game and returned to the sport with renewed determination.
Bezuidenhout's resilience and dedication to his craft exemplify his character. After overcoming the obstacles presented by his ban, he went on to achieve success in his golfing career, becoming a three-time European Tour winner and a full-time member of the PGA Tour. His journey serves as a testament to his talent, hard work, and ability to persevere in the face of adversity.
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He has had multiple wins on the DP World Tour
South African golfer Christiaan Bezuidenhout has had a string of impressive wins on the DP World Tour. Born in Delmas, Mpumalanga, a small town east of Johannesburg, Bezuidenhout turned pro in 2015 and soon became a star on the IGT Pro Tour and the Big Easy Tour.
Bezuidenhout's first DP World Tour win came in 2019 at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucia Masters, where he won by six strokes from Jon Rahm at Valderrama. The following year, he claimed back-to-back victories on the European Tour, winning the Alfred Dunhill Championship and the South African Open. These wins helped him finish 7th in the 2020 Race to Dubai, his best result in the competition.
Bezuidenhout's other notable wins include the 2015 Big Easy Tour Order of Merit, the 2016 Sun Fish River Challenge, and the Dimension Data Pro-Am in 2020, which propelled him into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking. He also finished runner-up at the 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic and tied for second at the 2022 John Deere Classic, earning him a place in the 2022 Open Championship.
Bezuidenhout's talent was evident from a young age, and he joined The Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation, learning from the "Big Easy" for six years. He has overcome adversity, having accidentally drunk rat poison at the age of two, which led to a stutter and anxiety later in life. Despite these challenges, Bezuidenhout has established himself as one of the leading South African golfers of his generation, with multiple wins on the DP World Tour and a bright future ahead.
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Frequently asked questions
Golfer Christiaan Bezuidenhout is from South Africa. He was born in Delmas, Mpumalanga, a small town to the east of Johannesburg.
Bezuidenhout is one of the best South African male golfers of his generation. He has had multiple wins in his homeland and on the DP World Tour. He was the 2016-17 Sunshine Tour Rookie of the Year and has since won the 2019 Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters, the 2020 Alfred Dunhill Championship, and the 2020 South African Open, among others.
Bezuidenhout was poisoned at the age of two when he drank from a Coke can containing rat poison that he had found on the street. This incident resulted in him developing a stutter.
