The majority of stars donned pink to support breast cancer awareness yesterday at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic – although for Matthew Southgate, the gesture would have particularly resonated.
The 29-year-old Englishman is a testicular cancer survivor, having battled the disease in 2015. His own battle came months after niece Hettie, then only two-years-old, was diagnosed with leukaemia.
His illness led to the loss of his European Tour card, which he regained for 2016 by qualifying from European Tour Q-School.
As the world number 142 has slowly been regaining his health, so too has his form recovered.
He finished fourth behind Rory McIlroy at the 2016 Irish Open, qualifying for the Open Championship by winning the final qualifying at Royal Cinque Ports.
At Royal Birkdale that year he finished tied 12th and last year gained his best ever finish at a major by finishing in a share of sixth at the same event.
It was somehow fitting that on ‘Pink Friday’, already an emotional day for the Southend-on-Sea native, Southgate made a huge splash by sinking a hole in one on the par-3 seventh.
“It’s really special to anyone who’s had cancer in their lives, or their family’s lives. It just shows how much of an impact it has when everyone clubs together,” a beaming Southgate said of the Pink Friday initiative.
“That’s been my goal since my bout of cancer, I’ve been trying to raise awareness of lads going to get themselves checked and the girls are in the same boat.
“I think it’s something doctors are starting to conquer in the world, more people are surviving, so if we as a tour can club together for the day, I think it’s a really lovely way to show we are a family orientated tour and we care about each other rather than just making birdies and that sort of stuff.
“It’s important and it’s a really special day for all of us.”
Southgate had a perfect view of his hole in one on the 186-yard seventh, with its elevated tee. His tee shot pitched directly in line with hole, took one bounce, rattled the flag and disappeared.
Southgate’s wide smile still adorned his face in the mixed zone after his round, and is unlikely to be wiped away anytime soon.
“I could see it go in. It’s an elevated tee looking down but until it disappears, you don’t know,” he added.
“When it rattled the flag and went in it was a great moment. There was a photographer by the tee so he showed me some great pictures so perhaps I’ll get one of them framed for the games room.
“I played some really nice golf the first few holes and was one over. I wasn’t down in the dumps but I was thinking it’s a bit unfair.
“I haven’t made a cut in a while, that includes the break over Christmas, but it’s time that adds up so you start thinking about it.
“I’ve hit a lovely shot at seven, one shot and in she bounces in, so that really boosted me for the whole day, and every time I thought about it, it put a smile on my face, and I’ve always been a player that excels with a smile on my face.
“It’s good for the weekend and I’m moving up the leaderboard.”
It was his first hole in one on tour since joining in 2011. And he feels it may have had something to do with using a pink tee, something he’s never done before.
“I was robbed in Kazakhstan on the Challenger Tour my first year,” said Southgate.
“I played four rounds and hit the flag twice, lopped out once and hit another one to within three foot, I never thought I was going to get one.
“I’ve hit a few over the years, on the pitching course and with friends. And you need a bit of luck. I’ve kept the ball, kept the tee so it’s amazing. I always use a white tee peg too, never use another colour, but I used a pink one for Pink Friday so it’s nice to get it off that.”
His round of -4 under par saw Southgate sign for a 68 for the second straight day. It leaves him in a 15-way share of 14th, five shots off the lead of Wales’ Jamie Donaldson.
And he’s looking forward to challenging for a maiden European Tour crown.
“It’s set me up for the weekend but also the year too,” he said.
“I’ve always been a field player so I need to be on the course. You can’t create the atmosphere of being on tour on the pitting green. It’s not the same when you’re doing it to save par. I’m really looking forward to the weekend and going on to test myself against the field.”
