His transition to the professional game was marshalled by his top finish in the 2024/25 Bridgestone Advocates Professional Golf Association (APGA) Collegiate Rankings. This accomplishment earned him a sponsor exemption into the UNC Health Championship through the PGA TOUR Pathway to Progression initiative, a program designed to elevate players from underrepresented backgrounds into elite competition. Speaking ahead of his professional debut on Thursday, van Wyk said he is looking forward to the new chapter that he has opened in his career. “I started the game of golf at the age of four. It has been a wow 15 plus years; I am excited, happy to get going in the new chapter of mine. I am ready to get started and it's something that I have been waiting to do all my life. Now that I have turned pro, I know what I have done… I know my game can compete here and I belong, I am excited to be here and kick start my career,” he said. The South African prodigy added that the APGA is doing a lot of great work for the development of Collegiate Golf. Even before turning professional, van Wyk was already making waves on the larger golf stage. In March, he finished tied for fourth at the Puerto Rico Open while still an amateur. He also became the first amateur to win an APGA Tour event since the tour’s inception in 2010, winning the Farmers Insurance Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Course in January.