HIGGO Garrick

General
MENTOR
His father Mike, who introduced him to the sport, passed away when Higgo was age nine after the family were involved in a car accident. South African golfer Gary Player lost his mother at a young age, and Higgo says this led to Player becoming a friend and mentor. "I met Gary Player just after that [the accident] because we both had a holiday home at Plettenberg Bay and we used to play and practise a lot together, and play nine holes in the afternoon. His mum died when he was eight, which was around the age I was when I lost my dad. So we connected, it is a real and amazing connection, and it's been there since before all the good things happened to me. It was only when I was around 12 or 13 that I totally understood who Gary Player is. I would be watching the majors and I would see Gary's name always popping up. He calls me a lot and he has really helped my game and especially the mental aspects of it." (citizen.co.za, 27 Jun 2021)

SHORT STINT ABROAD
In 2017 he moved from South Africa to the United States of America to study, but lasted just one year at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas before returning home. "I really liked the [golf] courses that are there and I liked the coaches as well, but it just didn't work out for me. I don't think my game was good enough when I was there, I struggled quite a bit and didn't play as well. I realised and knew that I was good enough and that I could make it, but I knew I needed to go home and see my coach a lot more to get better. I wanted to climb the ladder from the beginning." He then turned professional in early 2019, winning two Sunshine Tour titles in his debut season. "It all happened so quick, but my game just got better and better. To win twice in your first year is just unreal, but I just really enjoy competing, it's all I want to do is just compete." (golfmonthly.com, 17 May 2021)