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Joël Stalter: “It was chaos! “

Present last week at the Joburg Open reduced to 36 holes, Joël Stalter lived through difficult times, between a more contagious South African variant and a real obstacle course to try to reach Europe before the closure of the airspace. Story.

Interview by Lionel VELLA

When did you return to France?

I arrived Monday evening from South Africa and I joined my parents’ home in Lorraine via Luxembourg.

How did you experience this Joburg Open, the first tournament of the DP World Tour season and finally reduced to 36 holes?

It was hell! On the morning of the second round, it was learned that Great Britain had placed South Africa on the red list because of the new variant (Omicron). Almost all the British engaged in the tournament then scratched themselves and tried by all means to return to Europe before the borders were closed. That’s when we all really started to ask questions.

It was completely delusional. In addition, we did not know if the tournament was going to be maintained or be canceled. We didn’t know anything. We were in total uncertainty.

Joel Stalter

That is to say ?

We started to consult the flight schedules but everything was full or the flights had simply been canceled. Ticket prices have skyrocketed. It was completely delusional. In addition, we did not know if the tournament was going to be maintained or be canceled. We didn’t know anything. We were in total uncertainty. Despite everything, I managed to book three different flights so that I could play my second trick with my head, let’s say, a little more liberated.

But it did not go as you expected …

Yes. There was a thunderstorm. The game has been interrupted. And it was still so much panic about how to leave South Africa by air. In fact, it was chaos! I then had only one desire, that of going home as soon as possible. I had to anticipate countless scenarios. If I did the cut; if I didn’t make the cut; whether the tournament was maintained; if the tournament was canceled; whether my flight was confirmed or not; be sure to have your PCR result on time, depending on the destination. In short, a real headache. Speaking of which, I find it shameful that the tournament was not canceled and the Tour failed to get us all on a charter on Saturday once the tournament was reduced to 36 holes…

For those who had a European passport, going through Amsterdam was the ultimate solution. I managed to get a ticket, like the others, but at an exorbitant price.

Joel Stalter

Tell us about this flight chartered by the DP World Tour and which was canceled …

On Friday evening, the DP World Tour announces that a charter has been booked for the next day to allow players to reach Dubai. We said to ourselves: “It’s great, we are saved!” »But just before going to bed – I was with Robin Sciot-Siegrist and Frédéric Lacroix – and after canceling my flights since the Tour had warned us that a charter was chartered, we received an email telling us that this charter was finally canceled. We could no longer reach Dubai. We then said to ourselves that we were never going to be able to leave!

What was your option then?

For those who had a European passport, going through Amsterdam was the ultimate solution. I managed to get a ticket, like the others, but at an exorbitant price. On top of that, we had to manage to get the PCR tests on time. The South African lab had explained to us that we would receive the results at 8:00 am but we did not get them back until 2:00 pm… Everything was stressful from start to finish…

I played a lot but I didn’t play well. It’s my worst season since I turned professional.

Joel Stalter

When are you going to resume competition now?

In mid-February in Qatar or at the latest in India. But now, to be honest, I don’t care at all. I am very happy to have a long break. I need it. Mentally especially. I need to regain some freshness. Move on, be able to train and set up a work plan. The advantage of my category (16c) is that at worst, I would have a category on the Challenge Tour in 2023. On the DP World Tour in 2022, I think I could play about twenty trials. But hey, today, it’s difficult to project, given what is happening at the moment with the Covid …

What conclusions do you draw from your 2021 season on the European Tour?

It was a very difficult year. I played a lot (27 tournaments) but I did not play well (7 cuts crossed, no top 10). It’s my worst season since I turned professional (206th in the Race). I still learned a lot. It’s up to me to do the necessary work to come back stronger in 2022. I will have to redouble my efforts on my driving. It was very bad this year (53.32% of fairways affected). The other areas of play are quite good, but it is still complicated when your face-offs are not level.

Photo : European Tour

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