ASHLEIGH BUHAI column
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In her exclusive column, South Africa's most recent Major champion talks about life on tour in one of her favourite places
A lot is happening in the world right now. In my 'South Africa home' we've got the local elections and in my 'home from home', the United States, it's the mid-term elections. Although we'll know the full results by the end of the first week, the impact will have a knock-on effect which will have people talking politics for the entire November.
Plus, on the golf front, we've already seen players jumping ship from LIV 2.0 and returning to the tours they left before joining it – the likes of Louis Oosthuizen and Branden Grace among them.
And yes, that not too little matter of the Proteas and Australia renewing rivalry on the cricket field!
Where was I while all this was happening? My other 'home from home', Australia. South Africa will always be my real home, and Florida is the perfect base for myself and Dave, my husband and best friend. But, Australia holds a special place in my heart. I suppose saying I've always had a love affair with Australia isn't far off the mark.
A masterclass in bunker play from SA's most recent Major champion.
It started when I was 13 and Dale Hayes was instrumental in getting me into the Jack Newton Junior event. I attended the tournament each year, being the top female junior golfer in South Africa right up until I turned professional at the age of 18. Each year I simply loved going to Australia and playing there.
There are so many similarities with South Africa. The food is good, the culture, the sport and they're a really competitive sporting nation. My best friend on the LPGA Tour is Australian and I've made lifelong Australian friends over the years. There have also been a number of South Africans who have emigrated, one of them being my dad's mate who subsequently caddied for me when I won the Australian Open in 2022.
My sister, brother-in-law and nephew are setted in Australia and it's a special place with great personal experiences, memories and connections.
I'm a rugby and cricket fan, and while rugby is growing in the US, I find that I can share the banter and support for those sports with Australians in a way that doesn't exist in the US.
I'm a South African who likes the shared interests that Australia brings and having won two Australian Opens and having had a lot of golfing success there, I've also got honorary golf membership to three clubs.
One of them is The Australian Golf Club in Sydney, where I won in 2023. I find it the best manicured course in the country and similar to Augusta National. Then there's Kingston Heath in Victoria and Royal Melbourne, so I'm a member at three of the best courses in the country.
Due to the time zone difference, I wasn't able to watch the cricket properly, but I kept an eye on the highlights. There is a lot of chatter amongst South Africans and Aussies on the subject, but I have to say that in my experience the Australians aren't deserving of the personal flak they receive online and in general discussion.
Cricket's David Warner (yes, I know his 'history' with South Africans) is the nicest guy. I played in an Australian Open pro-am with him. He sends me a message when I've had a good tournament and we've been meaning to play more golf together when I've been Down Under, but our calendars haven't aligned.
While the Australians are competitive at their sport, what I've found is that once the competition side of things is over, they are really decent people who get along with life and there's no lingering bitterness or rivalry outside of the ropes. And that's the way sport should be treated.
about the author
British Open winner
Ashleigh Buhai has
teamed up with
The Golf Mag as a
columnist where she
will take you into her world as an elite professional golfer. Be sure not to miss what one of South Africa's greats has to say.
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