It may be lost on many but Trevor Immelman again has Georgia on his mind.
It was just three years ago, and also in Georgia, Immelman surprised the golf world to become only the second South African to win the Masters.
Among the first to congratulate Immelman was compatriot, Gary Player who had become the first Springbok player in 1961 to be fitted with the coveted green jacket.
Trevor Immelman again has 'Georgia on his mind'.
Immelman had overcome surgery in late 2007 to remove a benign tumour from behind his rib cage and defeat Tiger Woods by three shots around the ‘Cathedral in the Pines’.
But how quickly we forget our Major Champions!
Immelman has tried his utmost to rekindle that splendid Augusta National winning form but it’s just not happen for the affable South African.
When Zach Johnson help fit Immelman on Sunday April 13th, 2008 with the most sought after item of apparel in golf, he jumped to No. 15 in the world.
However in 2009 a wrist injury restricted Immelman to 13 PGA Tour events.
Coming into this week’s PGA Championship, Immelman had dropped to 154th, and if it had not been for earning a five-year PGA Championship exemption in winning the Masters, the 31-year old Florida-based pro would not be in Atlanta.
Immelman has slipped so far from anyone’s notice, he wasn’t even invited to a Presidents ‘possible’s and probables’ meeting hosted by International Team captain, Greg Norman on Tuesday night in the Atlanta Athletic clubhouse.
And to add insult to injury, Immelman competed in both the 2005 and 2007 Presidents Cup.
“You know, I never knew there was a meeting taking place,” he said.
“Playing in the Presidents Cup has been on my mind all year, as it was one of my big goals at the start of the year, and unless I do something really special this week, I look like missing out on selection.
“The nucleus of the International Team now is guys I pretty much grew up alongside, with guys like Louis (Oosthuizen), Charl (Schwartzel), Geoff (Ogilvy) and Adam (Scott).
“And the more year progressed, and after being there when Charl won, it became a real burning goal to make Greg’s side.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing in Australia, and I’ve had a fair amount of success down there, and besides it’s a similar culture to South Africa.”
Unfortunately, Immelman’s also ranked well down in 45th position on the International Team standings with 1.12 points, and that’s 1.82 behind the 10th placed Y E Yang.
However Immelman looks set to take a big bite out of his position after PGA Championship rounds of 69 and 71 for a level par tally after two days.
It made sure Immelman ended a run of missing the cut in his last two PGA Championship appearances.
