Schalk Brits: We cut from the same cloth

Brits is one of the latest names to be unveiled as part of Ernie Els’ stacked team for the sports bonanza, which is scheduled to take place at The Links at Fancourt in George from 11-13 December.

Speaking exclusively to SABC Sport, Brits added that golf has allowed retired athletes various sporting codes to share their challenges in transitioning from being a professional athlete to retirement. 

"The people, what is amazing and it's different to other sports or other countries I would say is that all of us know each other very well, across the sporting codes. It is the interaction of South Africa athletes, if it's kani [Simbine], it is Ernie [Els] or Louis [Oosthuizen] or Dean [Burmester] name all the cricketers and footballers," Brits said.

"We are cut from the same cloth, that's the beautiful thing about South Africa. We all have our challenges but we have one passion point and that is sport. We understand and respect each other's sports, we admire each other.

“Mark Williams that I played with last week. One of the nicest guys and one of the fun runs of golf I had and did we speak of his career or my career? No, we spoke about life and about the challenges."

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A total of 13 players unveiled for Team South Africa, with just two spots remaining as the Icons Cup draws nearer. 

Of the players already announced, Brits revealed that former teammates Schalk Burger and Fourie Du Preez are players who he already regularly plays golf with. 

"Okay, so the South African team if I look at Gibbsy (Herschelle Gibbs), they are awesome golfers but a guy that I've played a lot of golf with on almost every tour was Schalk Burger. He was my partner a lot of the time then a guy like Forrie, we still play a lot together if we have time or there's an overlap, so those two are definitely up there,” he added.