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If you have only now woken up to the reality of Dylan Frittelli’s career and talent, then welcome.
Frittelli’s victory in the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic, his first on the US circuit, was not so much a breakthrough as it was an affirmation.
An affirmation that “I know I’m good enough”, said Frittelli.
The reality is he was already good enough when he won the 2007 Callaway Junior World Golf Championship; the 2008 SA Boys’ Championship; rose to become the number one amateur in South Africa; was scouted by the University of Texas, where he played alongside and beat Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler, among other players; and holed the winning putt for them to claim the 2012 NCAA Championship.
He was good enough when he turned professional in 2012 and won early in his career on the European Challenge Tour and at home in South Africa.
He was good enough to work his way through a slump thereafter and return to win twice on the European Tour in 2017 and now claim his first PGA Tour title.
Frankly, if you’ve only now woken up to the fact that Frittelli is good enough to become one of South Africa’s best, and a future major champion, you haven’t been paying attention.
“I’ve always said I know I’m going to be a great golfer and have a great career and it’s just a matter of time until I get there. I’ve always had the faith and the work ethic and now the results are going my way,” Frittelli said.
The young golfer, who grew up playing at Irene Country Club in Pretoria, has always possessed an acute self-awareness and an understanding of his unique journey in this game.
And, although he jokes about his poor eyesight and his need to wear glasses, Frittelli is a master at seeing the bigger picture quite clearly.
While at the University of Texas, he shared the 2012 Byron Nelson Award – which is judged by the Golf Coaches’ Association of America –not only for his golf or excellent academic record, but because of his initiative in taking the university’s involvement with a nonprofit charity in the town of Austin to the next level.
The golf team was committed to two outings a year in support of this charity.
“I just felt that wasn’t enough, especially considering the huge amount of poverty we face in South Africa,” he said.
He grew the project to become one of the university’s top examples of how its athletes could give back to their community.
He also worked with his sister on a Christmas cracker project in which they wrapped presents for poor and sick children.
One year, they gave out as many as 5 000 presents.
Frittelli is good enough where it really matters.
But he’s always known this. After all, his dad has been telling him this since he was young.
“From early on in his life, I’d tell him he was really good at whatever sport he played,” said Ray Frittelli.
Frittelli has been listening. So should you.
