‘Brave’ Influencer Rianne Meijer Overcome by Nerves at ABN AMRO MeesPierson Beat The Pro
Influencer Rianne Meijer has 1.4 million followers on Instagram. As of today, she has likely gained dozens of fans as a golfer as well. It takes courage for a beginner golfer to take part in the KLM Open’s Beat The Pro challenge, and she did just that. “When I tried to place the ball on the tee, it suddenly hit me,” she said.
Dylan Frittelli, one of the three tour professionals she faced on the 11th hole, stepped in like a true gentleman. When Rianne briefly froze and struggled to tee up her ball, the South African did it for her. Armed with a 7-iron, the well-known influencer, famous for her “reality versus Instagram” content, then hit a slight shank to the right. She was rewarded with an encouraging round of applause.
Looking somewhat disappointed, she walked with Frittelli, Ayora and Robinson-Thompson towards the green, far from where her ball had come to rest. Back at the tee, however, she was delighted with the souvenir she received: her red ball, preserved in a small plastic display case.
“I was actually pretty relaxed when it was my turn, but the moment I tried to put the ball on the tee, the nerves got the better of me,” she said.
Meijer has only been playing golf for a short time. Last week, she earned her Handicap 54 certificate.
“I take lessons every week. Now I’m trying to close the gap to my husband, who has been playing for a while and I think is around a 15 handicap.”
Perhaps, she admitted, she should give it another go next year—hopefully as a better golfer with a better result.
“Because it couldn’t really have gone much worse,” she joked with characteristic self-deprecation.
For Churandy Martina, it was not the first time he had tested his luck at Beat The Pro. He had already taken part twice before.
Determined to improve on his previous attempts, he came well prepared. Holding a pitching wedge with confidence, he watched the professionals tee off on the 11th hole. But when one of them, Eugenio Chacarra, fired his shot to within less than 40 centimetres of the flag, even the ever-optimistic Martina realised the challenge had become nearly impossible.
His own shot travelled far enough, but drifted too far to the right.
“It’s still nerve-racking,” admitted the former world-class sprinter. “Maybe I’ll get another chance next year.”
