Casey Jarvis is trying to keep his feet on the ground after a life-changing fortnight which has handed him a shot at DP World Tour history at the Joburg Open.
Since 1972, only two players have ever won three consecutive DP World Tour events: Sir Nick Faldo and the late, great Seve Ballesteros.
Jarvis has the chance to join that stellar company after his victories at the Magical Kenya Open presented by absa and Investec South African Open Championship, with the latter also earning him a place at the Masters and Open Championship this year.
And while the South African admits recent days have been “unreal”, he is trying his best to keep everything in perspective at a home event he has wanted to win since he was a child.
“That would be crazy,” he said of the chance of joining Faldo and Ballesteros in the history books.
“I’ve got that opportunity now so I’m definitely going to go for it. That’s actually quite a cool goal to go for. For my name to be up there with theirs would be unreal."
He added: “Getting home Monday and seeing The Open flag and the Masters flag at home was truly unreal. It’s crazy that I’m going to the Masters and obviously to win my home open is fantastic.
“Houghton is a fantastic golf course and also the Joburg Open was a dream of mine to win as a kid so it would be nice to be up there in contention again. But everyone starts on level par.
“It has been two long weeks for me mentally so I want to give it my all and hopefully it turns out the same as the last couple but I’m trying to keep expectations very low, there’s so many good players here like Patrick Reed and Jayden (Schaper) so it will be a long, hard battle.”
It is only two seasons since Jarvis - playing as a rookie – graduated from the HotelPlannner Tour after a 2023 season that saw him claim a win and three runner-up finishes.
He now heads to Augusta National and Royal Birkdale as a DP World Tour winner and is grateful for the grounding he gained on that circuit.
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“That tour helped a lot,” he said. “There is so much depth to the fields and so many good players.
“The golf courses are so different to back home, so I think I learned a lot how to manage my game well and play professional golf. That tour was absolutely great for me and has led to where I am today.”
Jarvis has reason to be confident this week not only from his recent form but his history at Houghton Golf Club, where he claimed a top ten at this event in 2022.
As often is the case in this part of the world, the weather will play its role in the challenge the course will present and Jarvis believes short game will be key despite altitude giving some help to the bigger hitters.
“Houghton is a tricky little short golf course with very slopy greens,” he said. “They’ve changed two of the par fives to par fours so I think your iron play has got to be spot on this week and then your short game, especially the putting, has got to be pretty on this week to compete.”
