Hennie Otto
Residence: Boksburg, South Africa
DOB: 25/06/1976
Hendrik Johannes (or ‘Hennie’) Otto is one of the latest crop of promising young golfers to emerge from South Africa. Hennie learnt his trade playing alongside the likes of Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and Mark McNulty. However, Hennie could’ve represented South Africa's Under-23s Rugby Union side as scrum-half, but the final trial coincided with a golf tournament.
Hennie has played golf on the European Tour since 2000. He has only finished within the top-100 on the Order of Merit once, in 2003. That year he finished tied for 10th at The Open Championship on his major championship debut. Otto has won 7 times on the Sunshine Tour since 1999. His most notable professional victory came at The Tour Championship in 2003.
In 2008, Otto won his first tournament on the European Tour. Victory at the Italian Open and moved him into the top-100 of the Official World Golf Rankings. This victory came just a few weeks after relinquishing a 5-shot lead going into the final day of the Madeira Islands Open BPI, where he eventually finished in 2nd place. He survived a late charge from England's Oliver Wilson to win the Methorios Capital Italian Open by a single stroke.
Hennie Otto Tournament History
2008 The Open Championship |
17-20 July - The Open Championship - Royal Birkdale. The 137th Open Championship was successfully defended by Padraig Harrington. He shot -4 on the back 9 on the Sunday to pull away from Ian Poulter and overnight leader Greg Norman. The Open this year was without one notable absentee as World #1 Tiger Woods was recovering from knee surgery. Greg Norman became the oldest golfer ever to hold at least a share of the 54-hole lead when he led by 2 strokes on +2. Due to extremely high winds, no one managed to play under par for the round, and it was first time since 1986 when the 54-hole leader was not under par. Despite a wrist injury that almost forced him to withdraw prior to the tournament Harrington pulled away from the field with a tremendous back 9 and became only the fifth golfer to retain the Open Championship in the last 50 years. |
In Hennie Otto's bag...Opening rounds of 79 and 77 were not good enough this week and Hennie proceeded to miss the cut.
(CLICK ON IMAGES TO SEE FULL SIZE VERSION). |
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