Exclusive: Darren Fichardt Looks to Senior Tour and Renewed Rivalry with Ernie Els

As Darren Fichardt is fast approaching his 50th birthday, it’s only natural that he is looking forward to teeing it up on the senior tour.

But not just yet. Fichardt hopes he can still produce some good results on the DP World Tour (DPWT).

Though he missed the cut at the Joburg Open, the veteran professional had a top finish at the SA Open at Durban Country Club, where Dylan Naidoo emerged triumphant.

While Naidoo became the first player of colour to win the SA Open, Fichardt quietly finished in a tie for fourth.

Fichardt Poised for Success on the Senior Golf Circuit

Asked how he felt about his game at the moment, Fichardt soon began talking about the senior tour.

“I hit the ball the same. I feel the same as I did when I was 40,” Fichardt told SportsBoom.com in an exclusive interview. 

“If not, [I have] a little bit more wisdom, which helps a little bit. Well, I've got a mixed bag of feelings for this season because obviously I'm turning 50 in May, which opens up the whole senior world."

“So I've got hopefully three senior majors and then I've got an exemption on the Legends Tour and hopefully I can edge my way onto the Champions Tour as well.”

Reigniting the Rivalry with the Legendary Ernie Els

While the senior tour may be a lucrative opportunity, Fichardt will have to look closely at his schedule while he still has a DPWT card. 

“I've still got a DP World Tour card, which is also not an easy task to secure a card on this tour. I don't quite know yet. I need to take it as it comes and see where we go. See where we go with it.”

Should the 18-time Sunshine Tour event winner decide to join the senior ranks soon, he will once more come up against some of his golf idols growing up in the game.

While Els is one of the form players on the Champions Tour in the US, Fichardt said he relished the chance to play against The Big Easy.

“Absolutely. I played with Ernie last year and the practice round at Royal Troon [in the 2024 Open Championship]. It was nice seeing the old guys again. The next day, I played with Justin Leonard."

“I was playing with all the old boys. It's nice to play with the older generation, the guys that I was looking up to when I was younger."

“So, obviously, playing with all the kids now, and it’s a completely different era, but I’m looking forward to that chapter in my life.”

Emerging Golf Talent Transforming the South African Golf Scene

It’s also been 13 years since a South African won a men’s major, but in players like Aldrich Potgieter - who came close to winning the Mexico Open before losing in a playoff two weeks on the PGA Tour - there is renewed hope for the future from a local perspective.

“Very exciting. I mean, I'll probably leave out a few guys, but just what comes to mind, Casey Jarvis and Jayden Schaper, Ryan van Velzen and obviously over on the PGA Tour you've got [Aldrich] Potgieter."

“I'm very excited to see what Christiaan Maas is going to do in here when he turns pro. Daniel Bennett too."

“I mean, I think South African golf is in a very good place. I think there's a lot of huge talent coming through and hopefully we can pick up a lot more majors in the future.”