GOLFRSA SQUAD WATCH
on a
mission
This teenager is starting to reap the benefits of hard work and consistency – and the best is yet to come
Christiaan Maas’ all-encompassing love for the game is also to the benefit of those who have the privilege of watching him
play
BY CLINTON VAN DER BERG
Imagine a two-year-old Pretoria toddler, armed with nothing but a stick and wild berries, mimicking the swings of golf legends on dusty lawns.
That whimsical scene was the beginning of Dian Kruger's odyssey in golf, a journey marked by perseverance and a fierce competitive spirit.
Fast-forward to 2025 and this 18-year-old Centurion Country Club prodigy is storming South Africa's amateur ranks like a Highveld thunderstorm, blending accurate drives, ice-veined matchplay mastery, and a steely mindset.
Kruger first announced himself on the national stage with a wire-to-wire victory at the 2021 Nomads SA Under-15 Championship at Benoni Lake Golf Club.
‘Winning felt unbelievable,’ he recalls. ‘It wasn't just about the title, but about validating years of hard work.’
Yet the path to victory wasn’t easy. Kruger describes feeling ‘more relieved than anything else’ after holding onto that tightly-contested lead. ‘Mentally, it was about avoiding the trap of fixating on winning. Past leads fell away when I thought too much about the outcome. Learning to trust each shot and stay present was key.’
SHORT GAME
Best course:
Hadley Wood Golf Club, UK.
Favourite food:
Steak.
Favourite place to visit:
Clarens. It's quiet, away from city life. I find peace there.
Most famous celebrity met:
I dunno. But I am friends with Darren Fichardt and Charl Barnard.
Most recent book read:
The Tiger Woods biography.
Inspiration:
‘We all want to be like Tiger, or Scottie Scheffler or Rory McIlroy.’
'If I can consistently shoot good scores early in 2026, I'll seriously consider Q-School. If not, I'll stay amateur a bit longer'
Kruger's journey began in earnest during primary school, having initially juggled with a promising cricket career. By grade seven he chose to dedicate himself fully to golf, a decision that is now paying dividends.
His home course, Centurion Country Club, is a crucible for South Africa's best young players, featuring some of the country's top under-19 amateurs. ‘You're constantly pushed by the environment,’ he says. ‘Daily practice rounds feel like tournaments, which primes you mentally and physically for the real thing.’
Competing regularly against elite peers fosters a relentless competitiveness and sharpens his killer instinct.
Integral to his rise is a coaching partnership that dates back 14 years with Kyle Phelan. ‘He's incredible,’ Kruger says warmly. ‘Starting at Tuks, then following him to Centurion, it's more than just swing mechanics. He guides me through golf and life.’
The coach helped Kruger, especially before his Nomads win, to get his swing ‘back on plane’ and improve the technical foundations of his game. That stability allowed him to unlock the confidence needed to compete at a higher level.
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In 2024, Kruger cemented his position among South Africa's top amateurs with two standout victories: the North West Amateur Open Championship, and the Northern Amateur Open Championship, where, after an epic 26-hole semi-final, he dominated the final with a 9&7 performance.
‘The North West win was huge for my confidence,’ he explains. ‘I had struggled, so this victory showed me I could compete with top players consistently.’
The final-round 66, after steady earlier rounds, proved his ability to close tournaments strongly.
Kruger prefers matchplay over strokeplay, finding it ‘funnier and freer’.
He thrives in the head-to-head format where every shot can swing momentum. The gruelling 26-hole semi-final at the Northern Amateur was a test of endurance and mental toughness.
‘It's easy to get worn down, but I stay laser-focused on each shot and opponent, blocking out fatigue,’ he says.
That process-focused mindset turns high-pressure matches into manageable moments, a strategy he applies across tournaments.
Technical strengths include his powerful drives and nimble short game, especially chipping. ‘Driving and chipping keep me in contention,’ Kruger notes. ‘I avoid blow-up holes and create plenty of birdie chances, even when my putting isn't perfect.’
Indeed, putting is an area he is consciously improving. ‘I hit a lot of greens, but too often I leave putts out there,’ he admits.
Post-round, he uses stats apps to analyse his performance objectively, avoiding gut-feel alone to identify areas needing work.
When building a course strategy, Kruger balances aggressiveness and smart course management. ‘I want to be bold but never reckless. It's about picking the right times to attack, versus playing safe to avoid big mistakes.’
His competitive rounds double as learning sessions: after every round he reviews key metrics and the feel of his shots to guide his next practice focus.
Kruger is setting clear targets in his amateur career. He aims to claim South Africa's national number one amateur spot and is starting to prepare mentally for the leap to professional golf.
‘I haven't rushed the pro decision,’ he says. ‘If I can consistently shoot good scores early in 2026, I'll seriously consider Q-School. If not, I'll stay amateur a bit longer to keep building.’
His story, from a berry-bashing toddler mimicking swings to a title-hungry rising star, illustrates the relentless grind of competitive golf. With coach Phelan’s guidance and a head ‘screwed on properly’, Kruger is a young athlete who is not only promising but primed to dominate.
His best lies ahead.
ERNEST BLIGNAULT | GOLFRSA
