Page 8 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 4 2025

ESTATE MATTERS
ESTATE MATTERS
HOME FRONT

FROM PRODIGY

TO PURPOSE

HOW ANTON HAIG RECLAIMED HIS LIFE

AND IS SHAPING OTHERS' FUTURES

COLUMN

BRENT LINDEQUE

nton Haig’s story reads like a
Hollywood script. Born in White
River, Mpumalanga, he quickly
Abecame a golf prodigy, winning the
South African Amateur Championship as a
teenager and turning pro at 18.
In March 2007, the 20 year old big hitter
burst onto the global stage by winning the
Johnnie Walker Classic in Thailand. That
single victory vaulted him into the world’s
top 100 players and even earned him a
personal congratulatory message from
President Thabo Mbeki, who praised Haig’s
achievement and cited his string of early
wins, including the 2005 Seekers Pro-Am,
2006 Malaysian Masters, and Namibian
Open , as inspiration for other young South
Africans.
Haig’s fondest golf memories include playing
with his idol Ernie Els as a 20 year old and identity, and without it, “golf was my life – it sharing the lessons he learned the hard way.
fittingly, he played practise rounds alongside was all I knew.” Colleagues note that his happiest moments
Els, David Frost and fellow US Open champion The turnaround began quietly. In early 2015, now come from seeing his pro and young
Retief Goosen before lighting up the Haig checked himself into rehab, determined players grow under his guidance.
scoreboard with a course-record of 64 on day to rebuild himself from the ground up. There Haig says he stays busy with golf clinics and
two to clinch that 2007 Johnny Walker title. he confronted deep family and personal also maintains a disciplined fitness regimen.
But fame arrived fast and Haig admits he issues, including abandonment feelings from He’s often at the gym or out on a dirt bike,
wasn’t prepared for it. He later confessed his youth, and found strength in faith and hobbies he loves. Off the course, he’s
that being suddenly thrust into the limelight, fellowship. thankful for the steady support of his family
with big money and attention on the line, it By the following year, he emerged sober and fiance, and he credits a tight circle,
was overwhelming. In 2007 and 2008, Haig and refocused. “I burned a lot of bridges including a mentor pastor Rory Dyer, NA & AA
candidly says he spent far more time on his with people who believed in me, my words meetings, and good friends that keep him on
social calendar than on the practice range. eventually meant nothing so now I let my track.
By his mid-20s, the pressure manifested in clubs do the talking,” he reflects.
injuries and personal demons. He had been If he could talk to his younger self, Haig would
born with hip and leg issues that had already In less than a year out of rehab, he was likely say: remember your roots, show love
limited his participation in sports as a child, competing again, entering Sunshine Tour and kindness always and keep working hard,
and later recurrent knee and back problems developmental events with a renewed make mistakes but learn from them, find
took a toll on his game. An aggressive neck mindset. True to form, he won multiple times balance and have faith in yourself.
injury in 2011 finally forced him to retire from on the IGT Tour and once of the Big Easy Tour He’s currently mapping out an even bigger
professional golf at just 25. in 2017, proving that the talent and hunger ambition: an Anton Haig Academy and
was still there.
Off the course, he spiralled further, indulging Foundation to introduce underprivileged
in heavy drinking and drug use, and even He emphasises mindset and balance, a youth to golf and give back to the community.
battled thoughts of self-harm as his career lesson born of hard experience, and coaches In every conversation, he returns to the same
crumbled. others to do the same. theme… how adversity taught him resilience
and purpose.
As he shared, “I didn’t know how to deal with Today, Anton Haig has turned his attention to
all the attention I was getting. I lacked the coaching and mentoring at Dainfern Country Because when someone uses their hardest
life skills to deal with fame and fortune.” At Club, in Johannesburg, where he lives. He is chapters to write hope into someone else’s
his lowest, Anton admitted, golf had been his passionate about nurturing new talent and story... well, that’s the good stuff.
6 DPL issue 4 2025