He said he needs to stay patient and keep working hard for titles to come. “I had a chance to win last week (Eswatini) and finished tied fourth. My form is definitely trending in the right direction. I know I’m capable of winning golf tournaments. I just need to keep working hard and be patient,” said John to Sunshine Tour media. John made an immediate impression, finishing tied for fourth on debut in Eswatini on 13-under-par 203 just three shots behind the winner, Michael Hollick and a single stroke behind Herman Loubser and Pieter Moolman who tied for second. His performance also awarded him a slot at the recently concluded Vodacom Origins of Golf at Parys Golf & Country Estate. John also explained how he goes about playing golf and some elements that he uniquely deals with. “When I was born, they didn’t do the hearing tests in the hospital. It was only later that my mother started to realise I wasn’t reacting to voices and sounds, and she then had tests done which confirmed my hearing impairment. “When it comes to golf, every noise has a certain frequency, and high-pitched tones like birds are almost impossible for me to hear even with the hearing aids. And when it comes to the actual playing of the game, a professional golfer would normally react to the sound of the ball on the club or how the club hits the ground. But I don’t recognise those sounds. I do everything based on touch and feel. So I’ve had to teach myself to take my feedback directly from touch. That’s one of the main differences for me compared to other players. Also, when there’s wind on the course it’s annoying because the hearing aid becomes like a microphone in the wind. But I get along just fine,” he said. John has played in South Africa before in tournaments co-sanctioned between the Sunshine Tour and HotelPlanner Tour. When he lost his playing status on the HotelPlanner Tour last season, he decided to focus his efforts on the Sunshine Tour alone. “I basically got the email on the Saturday before the FNB eSwatini Challenge to say I was into the tournament. I was still in Germany, so I had to be really creative in terms of how to get there. It was adventurous. It was a spontaneous trip and I’m enjoying it. I always thought of the Sunshine Tour as a good option. It’s very competitive and there are a lot of good players. I’m still learning the golf courses here, but it’s a very professionally organised tour. “The Sunshine Tour gives incredible exposure and it’s a great opportunity to put ourselves in the spotlight. The pathways with the co-sanctioned events on the DP World Tour and HotelPlanner Tour and also the exemptions into the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying School are also incredible. These are all avenues that help us as players. It’s a great opportunity to be playing here,” he said.