It looks like you're going to miss the US Open because your wife is expecting your third child during the same week. How has fatherhood changed the way you approach the game?
Yeah, golf is what I do for a living but it’s definitely not everything to me. I’ve got two beautiful kids and a lovely wife and I enjoy the time we have together. They travel with me a lot, too. It’s great walking off the course and going to the house or hotel and seeing them. They don’t give a damn how my day on the course was, but it’s just a great way to relax afterwards.
The Open returns to Scotland in July for the first time since you won at St Andrews in 2010. What is it about links golf that you so enjoy?
All the different shots you can play. You’ve got five options playing it from 50 yards out. On any other golf course you’ve only got one or two options, so I like the shot-making opportunities of links golf and I’m sure Muirfield , which I have never played, is going to be a great challenge. There are not many times the defending champion has a chance to defend the Claret Jug on a course he’s won on before, which will be the case for Ernie this year, so it’ll be good be fun to see what happens.
If you've never played Muirfield you'll presumably be quizzing him about the course as much as possible?
I will try and play all the practice rounds with him. It’s more about seeing the way he plays the course; seeing what clubs he takes off some of the tees. But with all the experience he’s got I’m going to make sure he shows me a few things out there for sure.
How fresh are your memories of 2010?
You almost forget what it was like until you put in the DVD and watch those final nine holes. It’s a great memory. I haven’t actually watched it for a while but I will before Muirfield. The thing that was nice was having that lead playing 17 and 18. I was really able to take it all in. Normally in a major that’s not the case. Like at Augusta last year. I didn’t take anything in because the last two holes and the play-off were so intense. It was great at St Andrews to be able to walk up 18 and have the luxury of being able to four or five putt and still win.
And then a lengthy session in the Jigger Inn afterwards ...
[Laughs]. Yeah, that was a great time. We left there late and then continued in the house we were staying in afterwards. There were four of us – my wife and I and two friends. Great memories. My little girl was six months old and she was sleeping upstairs while we carried on.
Where do you keep your Claret Jug?
My replica is back in South Africa. I also have four half-size versions. One of those is at the restaurant, one is with my dad and the other two are at the golf club in Mossel Bay.
2010 was the 150th anniversary of The Open and as well as the Claret Jug you were also presented with a replica of the Challenge Belt, the championship's original trophy ...
Yes, that was a sweet deal [laughs]. The belt is in my safe back in South Africa. Whenever I’m back at the farm I’ll take it out and wear it around the place, but otherwise it’s in the safe.
Are you at all disappointed that the R&A has decided to make a few changes to the Old Course?
I’ve really got no idea of the changes, none whatsoever. I heard they were going to do something but I couldn't tell you what [laughs].
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