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October 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au THE FIRST TEE 5 Thanks Darren Clarke - I thought it was just me! JUST a warning. This is another ‘back in my day’ editorial, as I try to come to terms with the fact that age is getting the better of me and my golf game isn’t quite as it used to be. ‘Back in my day’ we learnt to play, and for some improve, through old fashion means, primarily through hitting lots of golf balls and spending plenty of time on or around the course. We often took advice from a family member, friend or playing partner who may or may not have helped our development, while best practice was at least a swing tip or two, even better a couple of lessons from your local club pro. We would also purchase instruction books authored by swing coaches of the time or greats of the past, and there were the monthly offerings in golf magazines. They might have been suggesting a different, often contradicting theory each time, however the instructional articles would in the very least be attempting to fix your slice or help that twitchy putting stroke. Before I hung up the typewriter and ventured into the professional ranks in the early 1990’s, I was editor of a national golf magazine and the overwhelming feedback was golfers wanted instructional tips, the more the better. It was the only vehicle at the time for the ‘quick fix’. Fast forward to today and nothing seems to have changed, only the way the ‘quick fix’ is communicated. And judging by the amount of information available, the demand must be like it never has been before. When scrolling social or tuning into digital media channels as you do, there is a wealth of golfing content at your fingertips. Golf retailers offer special deals and manufacturers promote their latest and greatest products, while there is guidance for golfers looking to get the body working better, usually with the promise of adding significant distance to your tee shots. That’s just Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) and probably on Tik Tok which hasn’t got me yet, without including YouTube or podcasts, of which there are hundreds, maybe thousands, producing golf content. On all above-mentioned channels, there are the countless instructional videos, tips, training aids and practice devices. Now being of advancing age, I don’t have the time or the inclination to do the practice I once did, so admit to having been drawn into watching and listening to these ‘influencers’ selling their theories or products. Some do it brilliantly. I’ve bought a few training aids, one being a putting mirror, which has me lined up perfectly although it’s failing to have a positive effect on my failing stroke, but I have so far resisted purchasing any of the other gadgets on the market. That’s not to say it won’t happen. As for swing tips, I’ve found the ‘secret’ many, many times over the last few years, only to find the so-called ‘secret’ doesn’t help for very long, or often work at all. I admonish myself for being so naïve as to attempt to change my game by taking the advice of a stranger, often someone who has less knowledge of the game than I have myself I thought it was just me, someone who played at a reasonable level yet so gullible as to fall for a gimmicky training aid, the latest equipment trend or the dreaded quick fix or swing rebuild. Until …. I stumbled across a five-minute video from Irishman Darren Clarke. A major championship winner and current member of PGA TOUR Champions, Clarke has enjoyed a celebrated career. Since turning 50 he won three times in 2020, then the Senior Open Championship in 2022. A fantastic player, I have long admired the simplicity and efficiency of his golf swing. However, somewhat surprisingly, Clarke was another bitten by the golf social media bug, and the result was a game which went into decline. Following the three wins and the Senior Open triumph, Clarke battled to find the form, and the consistent swing which made him great. The trendy theory of ‘shallowing’ his downswing didn’t fit his characteristics, or the way his 56-yearold body moves. He reasons the ‘modern’ swing is more for the fit, strong, flexible young guns who now smash the ball distances once thought to be unrealistic. The dreaded slump was the consequence. To the range he went, found the answers ‘in the dirt’ by practicing more and going back to what had always worked. So far be it from me to discourage your scrolling, for trying to revamp the swing hoping for a better outcome on the course this week, or for that matter from getting to the gym in search of the 20-metres with the driver that could make all the difference. Just be careful. Thanks Darren, I might try to figure out what worked before, and head for the range. I thought it was just me! HOWEVER, all of the above considered, I’m not disparaging the page 63 instructional articles in this edition of Inside Golf. Peter Croker has been successful in helping golfers get more from their game for decades, with his advice, as always, simple and easy to follow. As for Belinda from the Thornleigh Golf Centre, the sun has been out this week and I’ve already given the ‘Shadow Drill’ a try. 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October 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au 6 Dates and venues confirmed for prestigious Women’s events TWO of Australia’s most prestigious championships return to the national sporting stage in early 2025 with fresh new dates and venues. For the first time, the historic Wollongong Golf Club will host the 2025 Women’s NSW Open, while the stunning Coffs Harbour Golf Club on the mid-north coast will be the venue for the Australian Women’s Classic. The stakes are high with each tournament offering a lucrative $500,000 prize purse, with the events co-sanction by the Women’s Professional Golf Association Tour of Australasia (WPGA) and the Ladies European Tour (LET) in adding even more prestige to the 72-hole championships. The Australian Women’s Classic, scheduled for March 13-16, kicks off the exciting two weeks of Women’s professional golf, to be followed by the Women’s NSW Open from March 20-23. Supported by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW and the Department of Regional NSW, over 130 of the world’s best female golfers from around 40 countries are set to battle it out over the two weeks. And for those who can’t be there in person, both tournaments will be broadcast live, reaching fans across Australia and Europe. Mr Stuart Fraser, Golf NSW Chief Executive Officer, said the organisation looked forward to showcasing some of the brightest talent in women’s professional golf. “Golf NSW, with the support of the NSW Government, is thrilled to be able to bring the Women’s NSW Open to two fabulous venues like Wollongong and Coffs Harbour next year,” Mr Fraser said. “It will be exciting to watch some of the sport’s best female athletes from around the globe competing in regional NSW for two of Australia’s most prestigious championships.” Karen Lunn, CEO of the WPGA Tour of Australasia, said the tournaments were an unprecedented opportunity for players to compete against world-class opposition on home soil. “Competing for over $1 million on some of NSW’s most esteemed regional courses is a game-changer for women’s golf in Australia,” Lunn remarked. “This level of competition and reward is instrumental in advancing the sport and inspiring the next generation of female golfers.” INSIDE NEWS With Inside Golf Editor Rob Willis rob@insidegolf.com.au IN THIS ISSUE 50 54 LIFESTYLE FEATURE TRAVEL AMATEUR GOLF 18 SPECIAL FEATURE 31 BUNKER-TOBUNKER CELEBRITY SWINGER CLUB NEWS 34 32 44 PRO NEWS 7 INDUSTRY NEWS 21 CLUB OF THE MONTH 40 LETTERS 35 TOURISM MALAYSIA 58 65 66 DEMO DAYS 19TH HOLE INSTRUCTION 63 NEW GEAR 62 FASHION FEATURE 60 HE was one of the stars of the last Australian golfing summer and chances are the same will apply later this year when Min Woo Lee returns to defend his title at the BMW Australian PGA Championship, before contesting the ISPS Handa Australian Open in Melbourne. Lee thrilled the crowds at Royal Queensland in recording his biggest win on Australian soil, in what was his biggest victory on home soil. The win catapulted Lee to international stardom, such was his style of play and the way he engaged with the large galleries who turned out to support him. However, while 2024 has produced a number of highlights, as of mid-September and with his participation in the Presidents Cup just a week or so away, Lee still had work to do on the US PGA TOUR. Playing in the Fall Series events, following a tie for 32nd at the Procure Championship, Lee was 60th on the points list, with players ranked 50-60 to qualify for the first two, lucrative Signature Events in 2025. While exempt and eligible to compete in all full field events courtesy of his finish on the 2024 FedEx Cup points rankings, a top 60 finish would see him included Smith commits to three Aussie tournaments CAMERON Smith has officially confirmed his participation in three events during the upcoming Australian summer of golf, with the Queenslander set to play the NSW Open, Queensland PGA and BMW Australian PGA Championships. Competing on the LIV Golf Tour and the Captain of Ripper GC, the 31-year-old Smith has enjoyed a stellar career on the international stage, highlighted by his historic win in the Open Championship at St Andrews, three victories in the LIV Golf League and six titles on the PGA TOUR. He now brings his talents back home after a year in which he finished seventh on the overall standings on the LIV Tour in 2024, starting with the Queensland PGA at Nudgee Golf Club, followed by the $800,000 NSW Open at the highly-rated regional venue of Murray Downs Golf & Country Club. Still work to do in the US for Min Woo “It’s fantastic it is being played in a regional area and I can’t wait to see how many fans are at Murray Downs,” Smith said. “The NSW Open is growing into a major event and I’m excited to be able to play in the tournament this year, which will be part of a great summer of Australian golf.” “I love supporting Australian golf and when the opportunity arises to play, I want to be there. I try to get back home as much as I can.” Smith recently agreed to play in the Queensland PGA Championship on October 31-November 3, the NSW Open tees off from November 14-17 at the Peter Thomson designed Murray Downs course, before he contests the BMW Australian PGA at Royal Queensland from November 21. A three-time Australian PGA champion, Smith was looking forward to getting back to Queensland and to where his golfing journey began. “Coming home to Queensland is a highlight of my year. It’s always special to be back playing in front of my family, friends and all the golf fans and hopefully being up near the lead,” Smith said. As Inside Golf was going to print, Smith had yet to confirm his participation at the Australian Open at the Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf clubs. Cam Smith is a confirmed starter in three Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia events this summer. News, views and observations from around the golfing world INSIDE NEWS TEAM USA have broken a seven-year drought to win back the Solheim Cup at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia. The American’s opened up a 10-6 lead over Team Europe following the foursomes and fourball matches and appeared to be cruising to victory, until some early wins by the European women in the singles on Sunday made for a tense finale. It was a birdie on the 18th hole from Lilia Vu to halve her match with Switzerland’s Albane Valenzuela which would ultimately provide the Cup-clinching point, with the US claiming victory by 15 ½ to 12 ½. After going 3-0 in her earlier matches, World No 1 Nelly Korda was soundly beaten 6 and 4 by Charley Hull in their singles encounter, with Rose Zhang from the American team the only player to register a perfect 4-0 record over the three days of competition. American’s claim the Solheim Cup in the field for the A T & T Pebble Beach and Genesis Invitational. With the Presidents Cup, then a handful of PGA TOUR events to follow, Lee still has work to do and a busy schedule before returning home for the major Australian tournaments. The victorious US Solheim Cup team. Min Woo Lee has a busy schedule ahead before returning for the Australian golfing summer 68 GOLF DIRECTORY
October 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 7 Day signs on for PGA Championship JASON Day will return to Queensland to play his first tournament on home soil since 2017 at the 2024 BMW Australian PGA Championship on November 21-24. It will also be Day’s first appearance in a PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club, where he will join defending champion Min Woo Lee as one of the marquee players for the event cosanctioned by the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia and DP World Tour. A member of an elite group of Australian golfers to have won a major championship and to have also been ranked No.1 on the Official World Golf Rankings, Day will be hunting his first victory in one of Australian golf’s flagship events. The 2015 US PGA champion has enjoyed a career resurgence over the past two years, Day registering five top-10s in 2024, while also representing Australia at the Paris Olympics, where he finished tied for ninth. He was also an automatic selection for the International Team at the Presidents Cup in Montreal. “I’m extremely excited to be coming back home to Queensland this summer to contest the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland,” said Day. “Wearing the green and gold for Australia at the Olympics in Paris was an extremely proud moment for myself and my family and it will be very special to get back on home soil and play in front of the Aussie fans. Defending champions to return for the 2024 Australian Open CHILE’S Joaquin Niemann and South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai have confirmed they will defend their titles at the 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open to be held in Melbourne at Kingston Heath and The Victoria Golf Club’s from November 28 to December 1. Claiming her second consecutive Patricia Bridges Bowl in 2023, after winning across the same host venues on Melbourne’s famed Sandbelt in 2022, Buhai will seek to become the first woman, and second player ever, to win a consecutive hat-trick of Australian Opens. “I have a long history with Australia and have always loved visiting, and especially competing in the Australian Open which I’m thrilled is returning to the Melbourne Sandbelt,” Buhai said. “The names on the Australian Open trophy are special to be included alongside. Fortunately, I have had two years of looking at the trophy and I am hoping to make it a third this year.” Lifting the Stonehaven Cup at The Australian last December following a thrilling play-off with Japan’s Rikuya Hoshino, the 25-year-old Niemann will defend a title for the first time in a professional career that includes five wins around the globe and seven at home in Chile. “To have the opportunity to defend a title, especially a national Open, is something truly special that I am greatly looking forward to. I thoroughly enjoyed the Australian Open experience last year and think it will be a fantastic way to end a successful year,” Niemann said. “I’ve seen the amazing atmosphere at ‘RQ’ the past few years and can’t wait to experience it for myself.” PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said Day was an exciting addition to this year’s PGA Championship field. “After learning the game in Beaudesert, Jason has gone on to become one of the best players of his generation,” Kirkman said. “We’re delighted to welcome him back home and to see him challenge for his first Joe Kirkwood Cup.” Min Woo Lee will also be at Royal Queensland in November to defend the title he won in spectacular fashion in 2023. The BMW Australian PGA Championship is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and Brisbane City Council via Brisbane Economic Development Agency. Jason Day will play his first PGA Championship at the Royal Queensland Golf Club in November. “Having played on the Melbourne Sandbelt previously, I can’t wait to try and go back-to-back across Kingston Heath and Victoria at this year’s tournament.” Niemann backed up his Australian Open success by finishing second to Jon Rahm on the overall 2024 season points tally on the LIV Golf Tour. The two defending champions join Min Woo Lee among the confirmed starters for the 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open. “Having our men’s and women’s defending champions now confirmed as returning for the 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open is a magnificent boost for the tournament,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said. The 2024 ISPS HANDA Australian Open will be broadcast on Fox Sports and Kayo, as well as the NINE Network. Joaquin Niemann and Ashleigh Buhai will return to defend their Australian Open titles in Melbourne later this year. DistributeD by golf imports | 03 5277 3977
October 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 8 Rahm claims 2024 LIV Individual title JON Rahm’s first regular season since joining LIV Golf ended with his second tournament win in three starts, a perfect streak of top-10 finishes, and the coveted season-long Individual Championship. “I wouldn’t say it exceeded my expectations … but it definitely met what I expected,” Rahm said. The 29-year-old Spaniard shot a bogey-free four-under 66 on the last day at Bolingbrook Golf Club to hold off Torque GC Captain Joaquin Niemann to win both LIV Golf Chicago and the 2024 Individual LIV title. Niemann, who would finish second in the season-long individual standings and Fireballs GC Captain Sergio Garcia tied for second in Chicago, three shots back. NOVEMBER 14TH – 17TH, 2024 MURRAY DOWNS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB www.nswopen.com SCAN HERE TO REGISTER FOR FREE ENTRY WALK THE FAIRWAYS WITH SOME OF AUSTRALIA’S BEST GOLFERS AS THEY COMPETE FOR THE KEL NAGLE TROPHY LIV Adelaide to tee off in February - 2025 schedule announced LIV Golf announced that’s its third official full season will commence next February, with The Grange in Adelaide to host the second event of the year from the 14th to the 16th of the month. The third staging of LIV Golf in Adelaide will follow the season opening event in Riyadh, a tournament which marks LIV Golf’s debut in Saudi Arabia’s capital city. Two weeks after Adelaide, LIV will then return to the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club, before LIV Singapore tees off as the fourth event on the 2025 schedule. “As we set our sights on 2025, LIV Golf is gearing up for our most ambitious season start to date,” said LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO Greg Norman. “Since our debut in 2022, LIV Golf has played 34 tournaments in nine different countries across four continents. “We are a global league with a global footprint, and we’re excited to kick off next season with four truly international events that will deliver our unique blend of elite golf, In shooting 11-under, Rahm made just one bogey all week. He finished in the top 10 in all 12 regular-season tournaments that he finished, the lone outlier was his withdrawal from the event in Houston due to a foot infection. The Australian contingent struggled in Chicago, with the Ripper team finishing second to last in the team standings, Lucas Herbert the best of the bunch in a tie for sixth with a 54-hole total of five-under par. Matt Jones was 23rd (even), Marc Leishman 34th (two-over) and Cam Smith 52nd (10-over) in the 54-player field. Despite a disappointing final individual event of the season, Smith in seventh position was the best of the Aussie in the overall season points race. Leishman was 15th, Herbert 25th and Jones 42nd. entertainment and culture to fans around the world.” After previously being played during April, LIV Adelaide in 2025 will be looking to build on the success of the 2024 tournament, an event which saw individual winner Brendan Steele somewhat upstaged by the team victory achieved the Australian Ripper foursome. Led by team captain Cam Smith, Ripper emerged victorious following an exciting sudden death playoff. A victory in Chicago in the final event of the season saw Jon Rahm claim the 2024 LIV Golf Individual title. LIV Golf Adelaide was named the winner of the World’s Best Golf Event at the World Golf Awards last year, the tournament welcoming more than 94,000 fans across the three days. played host to the League’s first-ever team foursome. Led by team captain Cam Smith, Ripper emerged victorious following an exciting sudden death playoff. Further announcements on the remainder of LIV Golf League’s 14-tournament global schedule were expected to be unveiled soon. LIV GOLF 2025 February 7-9 - LIV Golf Riyadh - Riyadh Golf Club February 14-16 – LIV Golf Adelaide – The Grange Golf Club March 7-9 – LIV Golf Hong Kong – Royal Hong Kong Golf Club March 14-14 – LIV Golf Singapore - Sentosa Golf Club, Serapong course The Australian Ripper GC team will be aiming to back up their success at LIV Adelaide when they return to defend the team title in 2025. LIV Adelaide, which attracted 94,000 spectators over the three days, many enjoying the ‘watering hole’, was a resounding success.
October 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 10 in the interview. “People took advantage of me. Scam artists. And when you’re 24 or 25, even 30 years old, you don’t realise the snakes that are living under your roof.” During his playing days, Kim was known for having an active lifestyle off the golf course. “I knew I had battles mentally that I never talked about with anybody, and just kept to myself,” he said. “Through lots of conversations with very important people in my life, I got help and I started to turn my life around about a year and a half ago.” He credits his wife Emily and the birth of their daughter Bella, now two, for helping him return to some semblance of normality and take his first steps to getting back to golf. He began by teaching his wife to play, and found he enjoyed the feel of a golf club in his hand. Then Greg Norman phoned. And LIV, with its deep pockets, would take care of any fallout from the insurance policy. Kim said he spoke with Norman about expectations. “I told him, ‘I’m not here to be another one of the guys. If you want me to be, I shouldn’t be on this tour’. “I’m prepared more than ever for success,” Kim said. “I don’t think in my first career I was,” he said. Mystery golfer returns from exile to a future that’s still uncertain HE DOESN’T look like the other professional golfers. With his shirt hanging loose over his shorts, long hair spilling out from behind his cap and a nonchalant, outwardly careless, approach to his shot-making, Anthony Kim looks more like a Sunday afternoon social player than a member of the richest golf tour in the world. His face is different; his physique; the way he walks. It’s difficult to imagine him as the golfing protégé who thrilled the world 15 years ago. Kim is one of the great mysteries of world golf – a comet who burst onto the PGA Tour, winning three times, making the 2008 Ryder Cup team, setting records and promising years of fame and fortune, and then suddenly disappearing from the game completely. What happened to Anthony Kim, the brilliant player who reached No 6 in world rankings, winning his three PGA Tour titles before the age of 25? Where has he been for the past decade? How did he get onto the LIV Tour? And, just as interestingly, what’s he going to do next? Because, to be honest, his performances in LIV events this year do not suggest he’ll be welcomed back in 2025. Even though he’s banked more than $800,000 in prizemoney, he’s 55th out of 58 on the LIV Golf money list, with his best performance being 36th at Greenbrier in mid-August. The 39-year-old American, however, is a ‘wild card’ entrant and not subject to the same LIV rules that dictate players who finish 49th or below at season’s end face relegation. He could be back in the fold next year if he can secure a contract extension, a prospect that’s slim at best. By Peter Owen Kim was an outstanding amateur golfer, a member of the winning US team in the 2005 Walker Cup before turning professional in 2006. He received a sponsor’s exemption into that year’s Valero Texas Open, where he finished second in his first pro start. The following year he claimed four top 10’s, and in 2008 he became the first American aged under 25 to win twice in the same year since Tiger Woods in 2000. He ended the year sixth on the world rankings. In June, 2012, Kim had surgery after injuring the Achilles tendon in his left leg. He was expected to be out of action for nine months, but never played another tournament until this year. So what happened? Where did he go? What did he do? In a recent interview, Kim claimed ongoing physical therapy and numerous surgeries delayed his return to golf. He said he had multiple operations on his Achilles, shoulder and hand. He even underwent a spinal fusion, similar to the one Tiger Woods endured several years ago. Kim confirmed a rumour that he had accepted a lucrative insurance payout – some sources put the figure as high as $10 million to $20 million – on a policy he held in case of a career-ending injury. It is understood the payment was conditional upon him not playing again on the PGA Tour. Because it wasn’t around at the time, there was no reference in the policy to LIV Golf. His lifestyle had also taken a toll. “I’m not going to lie, I was around some bad people,” Kim said Young, brash and talented, Anthony Kim bursts onto the scene and the PGA Tour in 2006 before disappearing from professional golf. Anthony Kim returned to tournament golf in 2024 on the LIV Golf Tour. Noosa Springs Golf & Spa Resort's championship course is located in Noosa Heads. Play & Stay, just minutes from the main beach and vibrant Hastings Street. 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October 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 12 Taylor made for Legend Tour shootout AUSTRALIAN Legends Tour (over 50s) player Chris Taylor was in the middle of a round of golf at Lae Golf Club in Papua New Guinea when all hell broke loose. At first, Taylor must have thought he had trespassed onto a movie set where a crime thriller involving a police chase was being filmed. Taylor quickly realised that was not the case when real bullets started flying in all directions. “What happened was we were playing the PNG Open and were on the par-three 14th hole up the back corner of the course,” he explained. “There was an armed hold-up down the road and the police started chasing these robbers (raskols) across the course. It was like watching something on TV. “The police had these semi-automatic weapons and were spraying bullets across the golf course. That made me lay down behind a bunker.” Thankfully, the 53-year-old survived the skirmish and won the PNG Senior Open last David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au year, which helped propel him up the Order of Merit leaderboard. At the time of writing, Taylor, who hails from Hervey Bay in Queensland, had racked up nine victories including two in New Zealand and was in second place on the Order of Merit table. “I have done okay in the last couple of years and finished third on the OOM in the last two years,” he said. “This year I’m running second behind Andre Stolz, who is the man to beat. So, it’s a matter of keeping in touch with him.” Taylor puts his success down to being more relaxed on the golf course. “You are not putting pressure on yourself to think you need to play to make a living,” explained Taylor, who along with his brother Gerry shares the head pro role at Hervey Bay GC. “I still have the club job so I’m more relaxed and not worried about where I’m going to get your next feed from.” Taylor is one of 10 children – five boys and five girls. He and brothers Robert, Gerry and Stephen are professional golfers while Kevin is a bank manager. The family grew up within walking distance of Keperra Country Golf Club in Brisbane and spent most days honing their craft around the 27-hole layout. “Robbie was first to turn pro and we basically followed,” said Chris, who did his apprenticeship under Rob Gibson at Indooroopilly GC. “As soon as I finished school at Kelvin Grove State College I went into an apprenticeship. “And when I finished that I played the Sunshine Circuit and Australasian circuit. I did that for 10odd years and then when I was around the age of 30 my wife Kristy wanted to settle down and have kids. When my boys (Braiden and Travis) got to the age of 10-15 I played a fair bit of golf with them. “Then, when I got close to the age of 50, I decided to play the Legends Tour.” Taylor, a good driver of the ball, said winning the 1993 Queensland PGA as a 22-year-old was a highlight as was winning the PNG Senior Open. “I feel my strength is the driver and if I can keep it in play, I’m generally pretty good with the rest of the clubs in the bag. If you drive it well you give yourself a lot more chances,” he said. If anything, Taylor is confident in his ability, one gets the feeling he’d fancy his chances on the US PGA Tour Champions and he just might get the chance if he can somehow win the OOM this year. “My goal is to win the OOM and get a start on the US PGA Tour Champions, but to do that I’ll have to try and sneak past Stoltzy,” said Taylor, who has racked up 10-holes in-one and has a best score of 60 at Burrum District GC. Still, Taylor loves duelling with his fellow Legend Tour rivals. “I love the camaraderie on the tour and everyone gets on well,” he said. “We’re out there to have a good time. It’s not like the younger days where we were competing to make a dollar. We are all a bit more relaxed.” Away from the rigours of the tour and pro shop Taylor’s escape is fishing. “My getaway is to jump in the boat and go up a creek somewhere, sit back, relax and have a fish.” That, it’s been said, will calm any choppy waters of life as a touring professional. A jubilant Taylor (centre) shows off the oversize cheque after winning the 2023 PNG Senior Open. 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October 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 14 Smyth hungry for success in The International Series events AUSTRALIAN Travis Smyth is relishing the prospect of a late-season rankings charge on The International Series, as the Sydney professional goes into the final six tournaments of the year fuelled in large part by a transformation in his approach to diet. The 29-year-old is currently on a hot streak after finishing in a tie for fourth at the Mandiri Indonesia Open and following a second at the Shinhan Donghae Open in Korea a week later. It was after the last win in on the Asian Tour in 2022 that Smyth began to experience recurring ‘flu-like symptoms’, prompting him to explore his health, and to make radical changes to his dietary habits. “It was hard to put it down to one thing,” he said. “Obviously, I’m working hard on my golf game and that is one thing that I’m always trying to improve. It’s working, but it’s not just golf, it’s my diet as well. For just over a year now, I would say I’m very strict with my diet. “I did all this because I was getting really sick. I got blood tests and the doctor said I was fine. He advised taking multivitamins and that sort of stuff day-to-day, and my gut instinct was telling me this is not going to work. “I was very fortunate that my golf coach, Dean Kinney, lives an insanely healthy lifestyle, and he put me in touch with a leading gastroenterologist. “We started talking about what I eat, what I don’t eat, and what I should eat and basically, I’m eating the way he told me to and it’s working. I feel great almost all the time now so that’s obviously going to help a lot with my consistency. Over the space of 12 months or so, I’ve played the most consistent golf of my life and it’s definitely the nutrition side of things that has added a lot to that. A graduate of the Asian Tour Qualifying School in 2018, Smyth has recently shown compelling evidence of his undoubted talent. On the Asian Tour, he kicked off the season with a top 10 finish at the IRS Prima Malaysian Open, and he has been trending in the right direction with his results in Indonesia and at the Shinhan Donghae Open, where he lost to Kensei Hirata by one shot after a final round 64 that included an astonishing eight birdies and par on the outward half. On The International Series, the 10 elevated events on the Asian Tour, he has been a picture of consistency this season, with a T10 in Oman, a T14 in Macau, a T5 in Morocco and a T30 in England – placing him sixth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit and 10th on The International Series Rankings. Smyth is getting ready to contest six tournaments in a hectic eight-week spell on The International Series, with a place on the LIV Golf League at stake for the rankings champion and spots on the LIV Golf Promotions event available to around 30 high-ranking players. The run in starts with a double-header in Thailand, at the Black Mountain Championship (17-20 October) and International Series Thailand (24-27 October) and ends with the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers from 4-7 December, an event in Riyadh that will offer a bumper US$5 million purse. “I feel like I’m playing good golf and really feel like a win is going to be coming very soon but I need to go out and earn it,” Smyth said. The Sydneysider admits he is putting all his focus into The International Series this year because of the ‘life changing’ rewards that are up for grabs. Brothers Scott and Kieran Vincent are shining examples, Scott joining Iron Heads GC after winning The International Series Rankings race in 2022, while Kieran joined Jon Rahm’s new Legion XIII team in 2024 season after claiming one of three golden tickets at the LIV Golf Promotions event. “You look at Kieran and Scott, they’re the perfect example,” Smyth said. “They’ve come out to the Asian Tour and The International Series and played really well and got themselves onto LIV, which is life changing. “I’ve had a little bit of a taste of that tour. I got to play three events when the tour first got off the ground. I felt how amazing that tour was, so I’m doing everything I possibly can to try and get back there. That’s where I want to play.” Sydney professional Travis Smyth is ‘hungry’ for success in the upcoming The International Series events in an effort to win his way onto the LIV Golf Tour. We invite you to join GREAT COURSE | GREAT CLUB | GREAT FRIENDS Contact Patterson River Golf Club on 9772 1855 or membership@pattersonriver.com.au to discuss packages today Patterson River Golf Club
October 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 15 Guan gets a taste of the PGA TOUR HE arrived at Sydney’s Bexley Golf Club as a four-year-old looking to learn how to play golf. And hundreds of lessons and probably thousands of hours of practise paid off last month when Jeff Guan earned his first official start on the multi-million dollar PGA TOUR. Now 20-years-old, Guan received that welcome call at 4am one morning to tell him the good news . . . you’re playing in the Procore Championship at Silverado in Napa California under a sponsor’s exemption. That meant he’d be teeing it up alongside one of his boyhood heroes in two-time Australian Open champion Aaron Baddeley as well as Presidents Cup star Min Woo Lee. That was the perfect start to the next Tour season and made up for all the hard work and sacrifices this rookie pro had made to get to this stage of his career. As a 10-year-old he was selected to play in the testing arena of Sydney’s major pennants. Of course Guan has some experience playing in the US and played in the World Junior Michael Court michael@insidegolf.com.au A QUALITY field of over 50’s professionals assembled in LAE Papua New Guinea for the 2024 PNG Senior Open, however torrential rain on the scheduled first two days put a ‘dampener’ on the Legends Tour event. An estimated 90ml of rain fell prior to the opening round, with a further 190ml on the second day. With further rain expected into Sunday, the decision was made at 4pm on Saturday, with organisers left with no choice other than to cancel the $80,000 tournament. Queenslander Chris Taylor (see the page 12 profile in this edition of Inside Golf) was in town to defend the title he won in 2023, with Legends Tour Order of Merit leader Andre Stolz amongst the 43 entrants and also expected to be amongst the leading contenders. SWAMPED: Tournament organisers had no choice other than to cancel the PNG Senior Open after two days of torrential rain. Other titles soon followed: • Australian Junior champion; • New South Wales Junior champion; • NSW Men’s Strokeplay champion’ • Harvey Norman Week of Golf champion; • South Coast Junior Masters champion; • Australian Amateur runner-up; • NSW Amateur runner-up. Guan rates his father Ken as the biggest influence on his golf. “It was my dad got me into this wonderful game,” he said. “My first ever day of golf was at the range. “I took a few hits with a golf club and all of a sudden, the game got me interested. “And now, seeing all these big names out there, gave me more interest and focus to try and play to the best of my abilities.” Guan went into the tournament ranked 973 in the World Golf Rankings. But you can bet there’s a bullet beside his name as he begins what should be a profitable summer for a young man that his coach Gary Barter says has no weaknesses in his game. AS the October edition of Inside Golf was preparing to go to print, the Procore Championship in Napa, California was nearing a conclusion. Unfortunately for young Australian Jeffrey Guan, he wasn’t around to tackle the finals two rounds after missing the 36hole cut. Guan and his camp, which included his first coach in former Bexley, now Beverly Park professional Paul Davis, who was on site and following from behind the ropes, STOP PRESS –Guan at the Procore Championship would have been encouraged by an opening round of three-under par 69 at the Silverado course. It was a round which included five birdies and three bogeys. However, with the leaders within sight, Guan wasn’t able to produce the golf he had delivered on Thursday, with his threeover par 75 on Friday seeing him miss the weekend by three strokes. With Guan’s talent and ability, no doubt it won’t be the last time he gets an opportunity on the PGA TOUR. PNG Senior Open ‘swamped’ Jeff Guan. PHOTO: courtesy Golf NSW. Championship at the same age, finishing in second place, but learning so much about his game. Guan was the Bexley club champion as a 12-year-old. He then took his golf a step further by becoming the club champion of the elite Australian Golf Club at 14, winning the 36-hole matchplay final against his senior counterpart, 8/7. $3520* Pricing From
October 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 16 Royal Portrush will host the Open Championship in 2025. Open your wallet for Open accommodation IT’S around about now when smart golf travellers start planning their bucket-list golf adventure to one of the four majors. If your choice is to attend the 153rd Open Championship (July 14-20, 2025) at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland it would be wise to start planning, and saving, especially for accommodation. If this year’s accommodation costs in Troon is any indication you will need to have deep pockets. Ahead of the 2024 Open Championship, USBets.com analysed more than 1600 accommodation listings to find out what were the average prices of a stay for two people near Royal Troon Golf Club in Scotland during the Open Championship and how they compare to the weeks before and after the championship. When looking at Airbnb: • The average price on Airbnb for a stay for two people in Troon between July 1321 (during the Open Championship) was $8260, while the average price for the same number of days in the week before (July 6-14) was $2886, and in the week after (July 27 to August 4) it was $1915. Thus, the prices during the championship thus increased by 186.3%. According to the results of the analysis of Booking.com: • The average price on Booking for a stay for two people in Troon between July 1321 (during the Open Championship) was $13,027, while the average price for the same number of days in the week before (July 6-14) was $3050, and in the week after (July 27-August4) it was $3402. The prices during the championship increased by 327%. If Booking and Airbnb data is combined: • The average price for a stay for two people in Troon between July 13-21 (during the Open Championship) was $9157, while the average price for the same number of days in the week before (July 6-14) was $2921, and in the week after (July 27-August4) it was $2216. The prices during the championship thus increased by 213.5%. July 18-21 2024 costs: In the analysis above included was the practice rounds (starting July 14) as well as the tournament itself, but when looking only at the dates of the actual tournament between July 18-21: • The average price of a three-nights’ stay for two people on Booking was $4735, which was 256.9% more than the price of the same stay in the week after. • The average price of a three-nights’ stay for two people on Airbnb was $1850, which is 160,8% more than the price of the same stay in the week after. As of the July 16: • The cheapest option on Airbnb for the dates between July 18-21 was a flat 6.5km from the Royal Troon Golf Club for $1363; • The most expensive option on Airbnb for the dates between July 18-21 was a house in South Ayrshire walking distance from the Royal Troon Golf Club for $7277; • Meanwhile, the cheapest option on Booking for the same dates was a private room in a house 21km from Royal Troon Golf Club for $1101; and • The most expensive option on Booking for the dates between July 18-21 was a villa, also 21km from Royal Troon Golf Club, for $19,426. Footnote: Prices in US dollars. FOLLOW US ON WWW.GOLFWORLD.COM.AU RRP $47.97 NOW RRP $69 NOW RRP $159 NOW NOW RRP $87 AND MUCH MORE! BEST PRICES BIGGEST BRANDS OFF UP TO WA Open announces naming rights partners for 100th staging BOWRA & O’Dea Funeral Directors and Nexus Advisernet have been confirmed as co-naming rights partners of the upcoming WA Open. GolfWA’s showpiece event tees off on October 17 for what will be the 100th staging of the championship, the two partners sharing co-naming rights at the 2023 WA Open at Joondalup Resort and long-time supporters of GolfWA events. Nexus Advisernet’s has been the title sponsor or co-naming rights partner of the championship since 2009, while in addition to their support of the WA Open, Bowra & O’Dea sponsor the annual GolfWA Women’s Classic, a staple on the Western Australian golfing calendar since 2005. “It is fitting that the 100th staging of the WA Open has once again found support from two of our longest-standing partners in Bowra & O’Dea and Nexus Advisernet,” Gary Thomas, GolfWA Chief Executive, said. “Both companies have shown exceptional levels of commitment to golf in the state at all levels for many years. Their backing will allow us to deliver a spectacular WA Open in keeping with the event’s rich history.” The Bowra & O’Dea Nexus Advisernet WA Open takes place at Mandurah Country Club from October 17-20 and is free for spectators to attend. The PGA Tour of Australasiasanctioned event has a minimum prize purse of $175,00, with Tasmania’s Simon Hawkes the defending champion. Simon Hawkes will be the defending champion at the upcoming WA Open at what will be the 100th staging of the event.
October 2024 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 17 * *30 day guarantee Vale Derek Scaife - an unsung hero of professional golf GOLF lost one of its genuine unsung heroes of the game last month with the passing of honorary PGA member Derek Scaife. Besides being a long-serving president of Sydney’s Asquith Golf Club, Scaife also became a highly-regarded member of the PGA of Australia. And his devotion to golf became evident through an enduring friendship with another long-running servant of the game, former PGA staff member and tournament co-ordinator Peter Hines. Together Scaife and Hines played a key role in delivering numerous PGA-sanctioned tournaments. And their partnership became a cornerstone of many successful events over the years. Derek’s journey with the PGA of Australia and PGA Tour of Australasia began in 1984 when he generously volunteered his time and expertise to support the revival of the Australian PGA Championships. As an electrical engineer, Derek’s invaluable contributions were instrumental in the successful delivery of the tournament. His countless acts of generosity and professional skill set a standard that Tour officials claim was unmatched. In recognition of his unwavering dedication and support, Derek was awarded honorary membership of the PGA of Australia in 1998, a testament to the lasting impact he made on that organisation. Derek’s influence on the Australian PGA Championships cannot be underestimated. At a time when the tournament was undergoing significant transformation, his serious contributions helped restore it to prominence on the main stage. According to Hines, Derek Scaife spent hundreds or possibly thousands of hours doing volunteer work at PGA Championships as well as other PGA events. “We became friends in 1984 when Terry O’Donoghue was trying to revive the PGA Championship when they had not been played for some years,” Hines told Inside Golf. “From that time on he was always around to help with his many skills. “Derek will be sadly missed by everyone who ever met him. “He was indeed a great man. May he rest In peace.” Inside Golf expresses sincere condolences to all the Scaife family, particularly Derek’s wife Judy during this difficult time. Michael Court michael@insidegolf.com.au Derek Scaife, an honorary PGA Member, recognised for his dedication and support of professional golf. A ‘Lion’ books a berth in PGA Championship pro-am GOLF, of course, took a backseat this winter as brilliant midfielder Cam Rayner became an important part of the Brisbane Lions’ charge into the AFL finals. But, when he did get onto the fairways, Rayner gave more than a glimpse of just how good he might be if golf ever became a focus for the 24-year-old. Rayner, who grew up in Melbourne before being drafted to the Lions in 2017, has been playing golf on a social basis for the past four years. Last month he joined a group of his Lions’ buddies at Brookwater Golf and Country Club, a well-struck three iron from the Lions’ Springfield headquarters, for the PGA Challenge, an opportunity for Brisbane’s sports stars to show off their golfing skills. Rayner is a comparative novice compared with his golfing teammates Dayne Zorko, Hugh McCluggage, Zac Bailey, Harris Andrews, Charlie ‘Country Roads’ Cameron and fourhandicapper Jackson Prior, who all tackled the difficult Brookwater circuit. But this was his day, the sort of day when everything goes right and golf seems such a simple sport. Rayner scored 47 stableford points – 11 strokes better than his handicap, and 12 points better than runner-up Jarryd Lyons (35) and third placegetter Scott Borlace (34). His mighty performance earned him a spot in the pro-am to be played at Royal Queensland immediately before the Australian PGA Championship late next month. “I’m very excited. It’s going to be awesome,” Rayner said of the opportunity to play in his first PGA pro-am. “If I play half as good as I did out here today, I’ll have a bit of fun.” The Brisbane Broncos and Brisbane Heat have yet to play their PGA Challenge qualifiers. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed the Australian PGA will remain at Royal Queensland at least until 2025. Next year’s edition will be the 25th in a row to be staged in Queensland – initially at RQ, then at the Hyatt Coolum before transferring to Royal Pines on the Gold Coast, then back to RQ on the banks of the Brisbane River. – PETER OWEN
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