There is a perceived way onto the international circuit for South African golfers in this 21st century: Get your European Tour playing privileges and that will open up the doors of the world to you. Tyrone Ryan wants to try another way.
The 29-year-old Sunshine Tour professional wants to play his way on to the PGA Tour in the United States, and he’s been carefully plotting his way to give himself a chance of appearing on the richest stage of the sport. His maiden tour victory in last year’s Sun Boardwalk Challenge gave him the belief that his approach could work for him.
“The dream is to get to the PGA Tour,” he says. “That’s what I’m focusing everything on now. The easiest step for me is through the Web.com Tour. I’ve seen a lot of guys do it through Europe and then go and play there, but it’s tough that way. You need at least two seasons to get there and that’s once you’ve secured your European Tour card. On the Web.com Tour, you can do it in a year. I’m trying to go the short cut!
“The win last year was a validation for me of the process and helped me decide to take this next step. Since I turned pro, it’s been a bit of a roller-coaster ride, but everything I’ve done in the past year has geared me up to play more consistent golf, to get my body in shape. All of that’s finally coming together now and that’s got my head in the right space. It’s always been a dream of mine to get to the PGA Tour, and now it’s set in that I’m close.”
His dream had to be deferred for a while initially, and that deferment gave rise to something which has turned him into an altogether tougher player.
“In 2016 I had a wrist injury which led to surgery and I was out for nearly six months,” he recalls. “I learnt a lot during that time, and I realised that as golfers, we live quite a cool life, and working in an office is not so great. I’ve dreamed my whole life of being out there on the golf course and competing in sport. I’ve always had a drive for that. Working in a ‘real’ job is a lot tougher than golf.
“During that time off, I got into running and I fell in love with that. I’ve been doing that ever since and being fitter and healthier has kind of become a lifestyle. It’s a cliché, but it’s something I do on a regular basis. I’ve done a few half-marathons. My fastest was the Kruger Park Marathon at Skukuza in an hour and 40 minutes. It’s more a passion than trying to reach a certain goal. I wish I could do more, but with the time constraints with golf, the little bit I do is amazing. When I go the coastal tournaments and run, I see parts of the coast I never would as a golfer.
“In terms of golf, from a mental perspective, because I’m a lot fitter now, I can concentrate for a lot longer. And obviously, golf is a marathon. You’re out there for five or six days – practicing, playing, learning the course, and then the four days of the tournament – so you’ve got to be sharp. It’s not just about being sharp on days one and two. You’ve got to be sharp on the 72nd hole. You’ve got to be coming down there with a fresh mind, fresh legs. Your body’s got to be strong, and running has helped me in that regard a lot. Also, I’m a lot less angry on the course now if things aren’t going my way. If I have a bad day at golf, I go for a run and all of a sudden, everything just gets much better.
“So, in the end, the surgery was a wake-up call for me. It was nice – I needed it.”
He realises he has set himself a pretty stiff target, but he is clear-eyed in his approach to achieving the goal. “From a course perspective. I think the American courses suit my game a bit better,” he says. I hit it a little longer and it’s more target golf, as opposed to grinding it out. I’ve grown up playing that kind of golf in Johannesburg, so I’m more comfortable playing that way.
“I’ve never played in America. I’ve just done homework and research on all the courses and the different grasses they’ve got. I’ve also looked at the schedule of the Web.com. It’s all very structured and people love the game in America. I just love the way the Americans do things with the tournaments.”
But there is more that just feeling comfortable with a playing style which he needs to embrace if he is to succeed. “Unfortunately, I’ve got to go through all three stages of the Web.com Q-School,” he says. “But I’ve kind of looked at the venues, where I want to go, what I want to do. It’s about going to laces that you’re comfortable with. I have a few places in America where I have family and friends. If I do find a venue that’s close to them, it would better for me.
“Also my wife will come with me, and carry the bag. It will just give the venture a sense of ‘being at home’. I also have looked at how the course are playing at that time of year. I’ve had to do a bit of homework.”
So what is it that makes America his professional golfing destination of choice despite the very apparent obstacles? “From a life perspective, I’ve always wanted to go to America and play in America,” he says. “I think that basing myself there would be a lot more settling than it would be if I were travelling around Europe. There, you’re going from country to country – where do you base yourself and that sort of thing.
“I love Europe too, so it was a tough decision. I’m still kind of in two minds, but if I win a European Tour event here in South Africa, that would help the decision. There’s a lot of money involved, and it’s about setting myself up for the rest of my life. So I have to make the right call.”
To help himself along the way to that call, he’s also set out to try and ameliorate the high costs involved in a venture such as he envisages. He tried to fund-raise through a golf day at Royal Johannesburg in June, but that didn’t work.
“I didn’t put enough thought into it,” he recalls. “I only had three-and-a-half weeks. I had a few sponsors who wanted to get on board and couldn’t in such a short time, so I postponed it to the 18th or 19th of October. At least then it will be a bit warmer and it will be at the end of a week instead of the beginning when people can’t get out of their offices. I didn’t realise what it took to do a proper golf day, so I take my hat off to the organisers of professional tournaments. When it happens, I hope it’s going to be huge.”
And if that first step works, Ryan’s game could eventually make him huge on the PGA Tour.
