In January 1966, now aged 37, Papwa Sewgolum resigned from his factory job to dedicate himself entirely to golf, practising daily on different golf courses as well as doing strenuous exercises and regular 6km runs to keep his weight in check at 65kg.
As the lone ‘darkie’ on the white professional circuit, Papwa could enter their tournaments, but not the clubhouse. He gambled everything by giving up his job and going into strict training for full-time golf. On the black parallel, but unequal, TPA tour, if he won everything – the South African, Natal, Transvaal, Western Province, Kimberley, and Port Elizabeth Opens, he could earn possibly R500.
With no wealthy sponsor such as many white professionals had, and no private club to pay him, he could barely support himself and…