Schwartzel Senior had partnered three-time major champion

Schwartzel Senior had partnered three-time major champion

Schwartzel Senior had partnered three-time major champion Ernie Els to victory in a better-ball tournament held in South Africa in 1987. "My dad used to play on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. I used to caddie for him on the Wednesday Tiger Said The Swing Change Does Work and Saturday competitions and played with him on Fridays, so that's how it started," Charl recalls. In an exclusive chat with TOI, the new Masters champion talks about his past, present, future and much more. Excerpts: Did you have time to celebrate properly? Not really. They kept us awake quite late at Augusta, meeting with people and clicking pictures and stuff. Then we flew next morning to New York. Two hours. Sat there for two more hours. Flew to London, six-and-a-half hours. Three hours sitting there. And then to Kuala Lumpur, another 12 hours, for the Malaysian Open. There was no time.

Your friend (defending British Open champion) Louis Oosthuizen said the first thing he did was buy his dad a tractor. Do you have similar ideas too after grabbing the Green Jacket? More chickens, maybe! I've not had time to think what I'll do. I don't know yet. Were you inspired by any other golfer besides your dad to take up the sport? Yeah, Gary Player and Ernie (Els) were my heroes as I was growing up. My father has been my mentor although I have asked for help from some other coaches on tour. Now that I have won the Masters I feel that maybe I can hold my own against anybody.