South Africa’s big-hitting Wilco Nienaber is determined to push for a maiden European Tour victory in the Alfred Dunhill Championship at Leopard Creek this December.

The 21-year-old had a strong summer in South Africa last year when he finished 12th in the Alfred Dunhill Championship, second in the Joburg Open and 11th in the South African Open.

He returns armed with the experience and confidence of a maiden professional title in May’s Dimension Data Pro-Am – co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour and Challenge Tour – playing in and making the cut in his first Major at the US Open, and making his PGA Tour debut and making the cut in all three of those tournaments.

“I’ve definitely grown in my game and experience. The player I am at the moment compared to the player I was six months ago is way different,” said Nienaber, who joins another quality field for the 9-12 December Alfred Dunhill Championship, including defending champion Christiaan Bezuidenhout, former champions Brandon Stone and Richard Sterne, PGA Tour campaigner Dylan Frittelli, European Tour champions Dean Burmester, George Coetzee, Daniel van Tonder and Justin Harding, and top South African amateurs Christiaan Maas and Casey Jarvis.

“This year has really strengthened my belief in trusting the process. So, I’ll approach this summer in South Africa with a lot more patience in my game, and perhaps with a better understanding of how to handle certain situations. And, also, knowing the courses now, I’ll play them differently and more to my strengths.”

A win at Leopard Creek would be particularly special for Nienaber, who has never forgotten his roots in the game and the role that being part of the GolfRSA national elite squad – which had many of its training camps and international tournaments at Leopard Creek – has played in his career.

“My goal is to play in the Majors and in the biggest tournaments in the world. I’ve always said that. The opportunities I was given as a member of the GolfRSA squad at the start of my career have been incredible. It’s all played a role in making me a better golfer and I’m extremely grateful for that.”

Photo: Octavio Passos/Getty Images