Van Rooyen game rounds into shape out front of first Masters

Erik van Rooyen picked the perfect time to find his A-game.

After tying the course record on Friday with a 62 (Jon Rahm would break the record with a 61 on Saturday), the 30-year-old found himself in contention at the WGC-Mexico Championship with a busy schedule ahead.

The eyes of the golf world soon will be on Augusta National for the Masters, where van Rooyen will compete for the first time. He qualified for the Masters by finishing inside the top 50 of the final OWGR last year.

As a freshman in college in 2009 at Minnesota, the Golden Gophers played in Augusta State’s tournament, held the weekend before the Masters. Van Rooyen and his Minnesota teammates got tickets to Monday’s practice round.

“I remember Tiger was warming up with Fred Couples, Trevor Immelman was on the range, and I guess you go see some iconic holes, No. 1, walked a few holes, and then went to Amen Corner,” recalled van Rooyen after Friday’s round in Mexico City. “Thirteen is a much bigger dogleg than what it seems on TV, and then we just kind of spent some time there, bought a little bit of merchandise, as everybody does, and yeah, just kind of tried to soak it in.”

Looking back, van Rooyen has fond memories of his first trip to Augusta National. As an untested freshman, the South African knew his game was far from Masters-quality, but he knew he would one day get his chance.

“I always thought I’d play it, but until you do it, you don’t really know,” said van Rooyen.

“I’m probably looking forward to the first tee shot on Thursday with all the people there. That’s what you dream of, right?”

While his dream is soon to become a reality, van Rooyen has some work to do before driving down Magnolia Lane.

“I’d love to get into the Players. I’m currently just outside the top 50,” he said. “I’m playing Honda next week, hopefully Players, and then Match Play and then Augusta, which I’ve never been to before.”

After missing the cut at last week’s Genesis Invitational, the 30-year-old said he’s learned a lot about his game this week at a tournament featuring a field of the world’s best.

“I think at a tournament like this and a field like this, if you can play well, you can play well anywhere,” said van Rooyen. “So if I continue the way I’m going, it’ll be a big confidence booster.”

Van Rooyen shot a final-round 70 to finish T-3 with Jon Rahm, three shots behind tournament winner Patrick Reed.