From the range to the spotlight: Young golfer Mienke Liebenberg’s unforgettable moment

He was meant to leave in ten minutes. Instead, he stayed.

While practising at the Arrows Rest Driving Range following the recent LIV Golf event at Steyn City, 11-year-old Mienke Liebenberg found herself sharing the range with one of the biggest names in the game, Bryson DeChambeau. What followed was not a quick greeting or a photo opportunity but more than half an hour of conversation, guidance and encouragement.

“He wasn’t in a rush,” says Mienke. “Even though they had to leave, he acted like he still had time. He was really kind.”

For a young golfer who has been playing since the age of two, it was a moment that felt natural rather than overwhelming.

“It was really nerve-wracking and exciting,” she explains. “I was scared I’d hit a bad shot in front of him but he helped me relax. He even helped me with my putting and told me it’s not about the golf, it’s about the journey.”

That perspective already shapes how Mienke approaches the game. She practises almost every day, often using a net at home and spends several days a week on the course. It is not just about competition but about the experience.

“What I love most is playing with my friends and when I hit good shots,” she says.

On that particular day, she was also wearing one of her favourite items: a BooYaa cap, which Bryson signed during their time together. It is a brand she had already connected with long before the moment.

“It’s just my favourite brand in my cupboard,” she says. “It’s really comfortable and it lets you move. After all, in golf, when you feel good, you play good. And when I wear BooYaa, I feel good.”

Her introduction to the brand came through watching South African professional golfer Daniel van Tonder, whose presence on the course left a lasting impression.

At home, the journey is shared. Mienke’s twin sister, Mia, may not play golf but she is already carving out her own path. With what her family describes as a natural head for business, Mia is planning a children’s clothing range called Little Birdies. In a moment that perfectly captured their dynamic, she even gave up her BooYaa cap at LIV Golf so her sister could collect signatures.

It is that mix of ambition, support and perspective that has caught BooYaa's attention.

“Mienke represents everything we love about the game,” says Chantelle van Greune from BooYaa Golf. “There is a genuine passion there but also a sense of enjoyment and curiosity. She is playing because she loves it and that is something you cannot teach.”

Following the interaction, BooYaa has invited Mienke to join its growing ambassador community, recognising both her potential and the way she carries herself on and off the course.

“We are always looking for people who bring real energy to the game,” Van Greune adds. “Mienke already understands what golf is really about. It is not just performance, it is the moments, the people and the journey.”

For Mienke, the future is clear.

“I want to become a professional golfer,” she says. “And I want BooYaa to be part of my journey.”

It is a simple goal. But if her story so far is anything to go by, she is already well on her way.