| Liam Nolan is looking to build on a terrific start to his 2025 Road to Mallorca campaign as he prepares to tee it up in the Cell C Cape Town Open in association with Honor in South Africa.
The Irishman, who turned professional last August, made a quick start to life on the HotelPlanner Tour with a third-place finish at the season-opening SDC Open. Just seven days later he finished in a tie for fourth at the MyGolfLife Open hosted by Pecanwood Estate which has earnt him a spot into this week’s event at Royal Cape Golf Club.
“I did some great work in the off season, and I don’t know what it is about South Africa, but I tend to play very well over here which is strange because it’s so different to golf in Ireland,” he said. “The weather and grass types are so different, but I think these courses promote good ball-striking and that’s what I’ve done well over the first two weeks.
“I missed out on my card through DP World Tour Qualifying School, so it was very important for me to make a good start to the season. I was very fortunate to be invited by Golf Ireland to the SDC Open and MyGolfLife Open hosted by Pecanwood Estate and I was delighted to make the most of those invitations.
“I’m really enjoying myself out here and it’s my first full year as a professional. I’m extremely grateful to be able to play in these tournaments on these amazing golf courses. I’ve got the best job in the world.”
The 24-year-old enjoyed a glittering amateur career which included a breakthrough win at the Brabazon Trophy in 2023, a Walker Cup appearance for Great Britain and Ireland, followed by his Major debut in The Open Championship at Royal Troon last year.
He currently sits in second place on the Road to Mallorca Rankings and will be hoping for another top five finish in Cape Town to secure his place at next week’s NTT DATA Pro Am, the fourth and final co-sanctioned event between the HotelPlanner Tour and Sunshine Tour in 2025.
“The challenge this week is different to the first two weeks,” he said. “It’s a lot tighter off the tee and hitting the fairways will be a priority. If I can keep the ball in play and hit most of the greens in regulation, then I think I can put in another strong performance here.”
A stellar field assembles in Cape Town this week including Road to Mallorca Number One Daniel van Tonder, who is targeting automatic promotion to the DP World Tour by becoming the first player to win three consecutive HotelPlanner Tour events.
The South African, who won the opening two events of the season, would become the 15th HotelPlanner Tour player to win three or more titles in the same season to earn automatic promotion, with Englishman John Parry and Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen both achieving the feat in 2024.
DP World Tour winners including James Morrison, Adri Arnaus, Renato Paratore and Joachim B Hansen will also tee it up in the Mother City.
The opening round will get under way at 6:30am local time on Thursday, with Nolan teeing it up alongside Scotland's Euan Walker and Neil Schietekat at 7:40am. |
