The Pretorian veteran is in Western Australia this week for the WA PGA Championship, taking on the red-dusted fairways while potentially beginning a new chapter in his career and life.

Now 40, Bekker is no stranger to success. Since turning professional in 2008, he has claimed eight Sunshine Tour titles. His standout season being in 2017 which included three wins and a fourth-place finish on the Order of Merit. Bekker earned promotion to the DP World Tour in 2022 after a top-10 finish on the Challenge Tour’s Road to Mallorca standings. Bekker also played in the inaugural LIV Golf event.

Yet this week's stop on the PGA Tour of Australasia looks a little different from other weeks. When he tees off on Thursday, Bekker will be trying to join an impressive list of winners who have won this famous event, but he is also in the West, discovering what might be next in life.

"I got (Australian) residency at the end of 2023 through a residency visa. We forgot about it because we had applied before the COVID pandemic. Then it took four years to get the visa," Bekker told Golf Australia magazine.

Australia wasn't part of the original plan. But after losing status on the DP World Tour, Bekker and his family started to ponder what life could look like in Australia, and he is ready to get a taste over the next two weeks.

"I lost my card in Europe, and I was like, 'Okay, now it becomes an option. Basically, we're just coming over to see what it's like.'"

That curiosity brought him to Kalgoorlie. "At the moment, it's these two weeks," he says. "I've been very fortunate. They've been very accommodating. I'm really appreciative of that. It's been fun so far."

The famous red sand will be on display at the WA PGA Championship, one of the best events on the calendar. PHOTO: Golf Australia/PGA of Australia.

"It's very similar to South Africa in a lot of ways; the weather is very similar.

"A lot of South Africans already live in Australia, especially in Perth. I have friends who live in Perth who grew up with me and attended high school with me. So, it's actually been good to see them [this week] as well.

Bekker's motivation to keep fronting up on tours around the globe is simple — golf is all he's ever known. And he comes into this week just a couple of months off a career-best outing.

"I shot my best round ever in my life just two months ago.

"It was at Fancourt. I shot 61," he laughs.

"I probably shot 62 twenty or thirty times in my life, but never 61. So, it was nice to finally break the duck and go one better at least."

The ability and mentality to compete are clearly still there. Taking all the highs and lows in his stride illustrates how experienced he really is. "It's always those gradual ups and downs," he says. "Golf keeps you humble, and you never know what's around the corner."

"As soon as you feel like you can't compete anymore, I think you should maybe consider doing something else," Bekker adds.

The unique layout of Kalgoorlie presents a very different test to courses in Europe and South Africa. The heavy rain over the past week has altered the course's playing conditions, which Bekker believes could work in his favour.

"There was a downpour over the weekend. So, everything is different to what the guys are used to over here," Bekker says.

"I think that's actually good for me because I've got no previous knowledge of the golf course." The Kikuyu fairways, softened by recent rain, play right into his style.

"The Kikuyu doesn't allow for much run on the fairways. So, I think it's good for me," he explains.

"You've got to be very accurate with your approach play because the run-offs on and around the greens are quite severe."

Bekker has been tweaking his swing and equipment, hoping the work pays off later this season on the Sunshine Tour, in the hope of picking up the DP World Tour card on offer. Or, heading to Q-school in Melbourne if he decides to move the family over from South Africa.

"I've been doing a few swing changes, working on a few things, and an equipment change as well. So there's quite a lot going on.

"Trying to settle into those things to get ready for that stint of the year. And then hopefully, have a strong finish to the season and get one of those [DP World Tour Cards].

"Then after that as well, considering the move to Australia, maybe going to Q-School in Melbourne in April, if we do decide to come over."