Schwartzel in big victory bid at SA Open.(Sports)

BYLINE: Grant Winter

JOHANNESBURG: Charl Schwartzel arrives at Pearl Valley today knowing that victory in this week's South African Open will make 2009 his best year yet in professional golf.

It seems as if the sweet-swinging professional has been around for many years, but the truth is that he is only 25. It's just that he's packed plenty of success into his career since joining the paid ranks as an 18-year-old in 2002.

Three European Tour victories have fallen into his lap, and he has topped the Sunshine Tour Order of Merit three times in his relatively brief spell as a pro - in 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07.

And he has a fighting chance …