Goosen inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame

Cape Town - South Africa's two-time major champion Retief Goosen has been inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame.

Just three days before the 119th US Open Championship kicks off in nearby Pebble Beach, Goosen joined Billy Payne, Jan Stephenson, Dennis Walters and the late Peggy Kirk Bell as the Class of 2019.

The 50-year-old was picked in the 'Male Competitor Category' with the criteria for selection being to have won 15 or more professional titles, won two or more majors and to be at least 50 years old during the year of a given induction ceremony.

South African golf icon Gary Player took to the stage next to introduce fellow countryman and two-time US Open champion Goosen.

According to the Golf Hall of Fame website, Goosen remarked on his golf career, sharing his love for the game from early on in his life. He recalled the time when he was struck by lightning on the course at the age of 15.

He beat the odds after quickly recovering and returning to the course just a few weeks later, going on to win two US Opens among his 33 worldwide wins.

The induction brings the World Golf Hall of Fame to 160 members. The final selection is by a 16-member panel, the majority of them golf administrators.

Goosen joins Player, Ernie Els and Bobby Locke as the fourth South African to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Retief Goosen - 2019 Inductee - has amassed 33 wins as a professional golfer, including two #USOpen victories in 2001 and 2004. But what was his first job? #Trivia #GolfHOF2019 #FirstJob @RetiefGoosen pic.twitter.com/Ii3Nd9u1uH

— Golf Hall of Fame (@GolfHallofFame) June 6, 2019