“Doral was an eye opener. It was a phenomenal experience, to play with the best in the world. To compete with them, standing on the same putting greens definitely makes you feel worthy, which is a main thing as a golfer,” he said.
“I’m a few years younger than Charl and Louis ... [but] it makes you believe that you can also do it. They came from the same country, same juniors, same amateur circuit. Seeing what they did definitely makes you believe you can do it. Being friends with them, you know their swings and capabilities and definitely makes me believe that I can also do it.
“I want to play in America in the next four or five years. Next couple of years, I see myself playing in Europe and will try to finish as high as I can on the Order of Merit. I also want to win the Order of Merit on the Asian Tour,” said Kruger.
He was a keen observer during the Cadillac Championship, watching players go through the motions. And he reckons he now knows the secret to their success.
“Short game is the big difference. Those guys are extremely good. They swing the club well. I don’t think many people in the world can hit the ball better than me. But their short game is tremendous. If they miss a green, they’ll make par nine out of 10 times. That’s the difference. They don’t make simple or stupid mistakes which cost me a lot of money every year. I think that’s the big thing,” he said.
Kruger believes his journey on the Asian Tour has helped shape his career.
“It gave me experience, especially the first couple of years. I was alone and it shaped me into a stronger person," said Kruger. "Everybody desperately needs experience and that’s why I’m a better golfer now. Different weather, different grasses, different greens make you a more complete player. You can’t have the skill set like this if you go straight to Europe or America. You need to learn everything there needs to learn in Asia and that’s what makes it so special."
