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January 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au THE FIRST TEE 5 Let’s focus on the positives in 2025 IT’S easy to find and highlight the negatives. Cameron Smith wasn’t overly pleased with the set-up of the Australian Open courses, believing Victoria and Kingston Heath to be too soft and unlike how he thought traditional Melbourne sandbelt layouts were designed to play, especially in big championships. His mood likely also had a bit to do with the men, women and all abilities playing the same course at the same time. He didn’t say as much, but we’re not sure he is a fan of the current format. Our Bunker-to-Bunker panel tackles the topic of penalties for repeat offenders when it comes to slow play. Related to that, without naming him Smith doubled down and took a veiled swipe at the pace at which Elvis Smylie plays, after being paired with the young Queenslander in Brisbane at the PGA Championship, then again over the opening two rounds in Melbourne. Smith’s LIV teammate Lucas Herbert on Sunday at Kingston Heath struggled with his game, and judging by his verbal reactions, heard clearly through television microphones, he may have been a little tired and emotional after playing three tournaments in a row. Similarly, Cam had played four weeks out of five, maybe we can forgive him for perhaps being a little cranky at the end of a draining run of tournaments, where at all of which he was the centre of attention. Jason Day jetted out of Brisbane without detouring to the Australian Open, where he would have added his star power to the national championship, while for whatever reason, Adam Scott didn’t venture down under at all. I can also wallow in some personal pity, with commitments keeping me away from the course and my game suffering as a result. So, while you can’t ignore some of the above, maybe 2025 is the time to start focusing on the positive. After all, golf is booming, as evidenced by busy courses, the health of our professional game and the 70-odd pages of ‘good news’ contained in this edition of Inside Golf. So why don’t we look at the fantastic condition in which the Heath and Victoria were presented for the national open. The fairways were like carpet, the greens maybe a little on the slow side for the sandbelt, but at the same time smooth and true. When it comes to our newest young star (and please Elvis don’t take offence at our page 46 cartoon by the way ) why don’t we celebrate his success. Australia has a number of exciting emerging young stars, Elvis might just be the best of them all. And the less shots he takes each week, doesn’t that equate to the quicker he plays? Yes, Cam and Lucas were a little testy by the time the Australian Open wound up, however they should be applauded for their presence, at four events for Cam, three for Lucas, in bringing their considerable profile and high quality golf to the tournaments they contested and to the many who had not seen them play before. As for Jason, it was great to see him back in Australia after a long absence, and as he expressed in an interview published in this edition of Inside Golf with our US correspondent Garrett Johnston, he has plans to come again real soon. And we can certainly cut Adam a break for missing out on our local events this year, considering his workload and the number of international tournaments he played during 2024. He has traditionally supported the events back home and we can hope that will be the case again going forward. I’m also trying to believe I can find some form, win a ball or two in the ball comp and maybe even the odd trophy voucher in the weeks and months ahead. I’m happy to, so why don’t we all try to focus on the positives whent it comes to golf in 2025. 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Combined print and online national monthly readership over 210,000. AUSTRALIA’S MOST-READ GOLF MAGAZINE www.insidegolf.com.au Cover photo: Jason Day. Photo courtesy Golf Australia Inside Golf publishes opinion from a wide range of perspectives in the hope of promoting constructive debate about consequential questions. Get in touch If you have an opinion on this or any other topic in the magazine, send your letter to the editor to rob@insidegolf. com.au and you’ll be in the running to win a gripping prize. Rob Willis rob@insidegolf.com.au STAY & PLAY FROM $339* FOR TWO Enjoy an overnight stay with buffet breakfast for two in a Resort Room, 1 round of 18 holes with cart for one, plus 10% off in The Alcove restaurant. *Terms & conditions apply. Subject to availability. Additional rounds of golf can be purchased. Hotel Reservations: (08) 9400 8888 www.joondalupresort.com.au joondalupresort @joondalupresort reservations@joondalupresort.com.au
January 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au 6 MARIANNE Lee, who plays her golf at Gardiners Run golf course some 35 minutes east of the Melbourne CBD, was the recipient of Champions Club tickets at the ISPS Handa Australian Open. Attending during Thursday’s first round, Marianne enjoyed the food, beverages and the corporate hospitality, but also the quality of the golf from both the men and the women from her position behind Kingston Heath’s signature par three 15th hole. “We had a fabulous day. It was inspiring seeing all the players, loved watching Hannah Green and the hospitality venue was great. All staff were terrific,” Marianne responded after her day at the golf. The tickets and special day at the Australian Open were courtesy of Golf Australia and Inside Golf. INSIDE NEWS IN THIS ISSUE 58 63 NEW GEAR INSTRUCTION AMATEUR GOLF 19 INDUSTRY NEWS 22 BUNKER-TOBUNKER CLUB NEWS MURRAY RIVER FEATURE 46 30 53 PRO NEWS 7 TOURNAMENTS 20 TRAVEL 48 LETTERS 47 DEMO DAYS 65 GOLF DIRECTORY 68 19TH HOLE 66 Diamonds sparkle at PGA party hole PETER Diamond couldn’t believe his luck when he received a phone call from Inside Golf to inform him that he was the lucky winner of two corporate tickets to the Champions Deck (par-3 party hole) on day one of the BMW Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club. “Winning those tickets was fantastic and a surprise because I don’t win too many things except for the odd meat tray. It (corporate tickets) was something I wouldn’t normally be able to afford,” said Peter, a retired Macleay Island resident. “My wife Glynis and I were going on Thursday anyway, but when we received the call to tell us we had won two corporate tickets it was brilliant. We went out early on Thursday morning to follow a Scheffler a ‘Hero’ in the Bahamas few groups before going to the Champions Deck where we had a ball. “I liked watching the people in the grandstands calling for the players’ golf balls,” Peter said. “I thought that was pretty cool, especially when that guy caught a golf ball in his drinking cup. “That was snazzy … and the players seem to enjoy it as well.” Unfortunately, Peter and Glynis were unable to snare a golf ball thrown by the professionals to the outstretched hands of fans in the stands. “Anyway, I’d like to thank Inside Golf for the amazing opportunity to attend the golf and enjoy the hospitality on the Champions Deck. It was exciting.” – DAVID NEWBERY INSIDE NEWS DESPITE taking a two-month break from the game Scottie Scheffler showed no signs of rust in putting an exclamation mark on a remarkable 2024 with a victory at the Hero World Challenge at the Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas. Scheffler began the final round one shot behind overnight leader Justin Thomas, however a 63 on Sunday saw him finish 25-under par and six shots clear of runner up Tom Kim. Thomas was third a shot further back. The victory in the limited field event was his ninth of the year, while he was just the third player after Viktor Hovland (2021-22) and tournament host Tiger Woods (200607) to successfully defend the Hero World Challenge title. And he achieved the victory using a modified putting grip for the first time in competition, Scheffler employing a version of the ‘claw’ with great success. During an extraordinary 2024 campaign, Scheffler won seven PGA TOUR titles, among them his second Masters in three years, he became the first ever to successfully defend at THE PLAYERS Championship and captured four of the PGA TOUR’s Signature Events. He also won the Olympic gold medal in Paris, the FedExCup, and despite Xander Schauffele winning two majors, was standout as Player of the Year. Scheffler also managed three wins and two halves to be undefeated representing the Americans at the Presidents Cup. News, views and observations from around the golfing world Norman and LIV - Watch this space IT may well play out over the Christmas period and before this edition of Inside Golf hits the stands, however the drums are beating when it comes to Greg Norman’s future as LIV Golf CEO. In an interview with Indiana TV news station WISH-TV Norman confirmed he is to be replaced as LIV Golf CEO, likely with former NBA and NHL executive Scott O’Neil, while saying he is “fine with it”. “Is there going to be a new CEO? Yes. There will be a new CEO. I’m fine with that,” he revealed. “Will I always have a place and be involved with LIV to some capacity? Yes. I’ll always have that. “I’ve seen it (LIV Golf) come from a business model on paper to giving birth on the golf course to where it is today. “Because the impact that has been created in the game of golf by LIV, I’ve had a small, small piece of that, which I’m proud of.” The 69-year-old Norman has held the position of CEO since the Saudi-funded LIV circuit’s inception in October of 2021. Seen as a stumbling block to negotiations for a PGA TOUR - LIV Golf coming together, a potential replacement for Norman may bring a ‘peace deal’ closer to being. Rumours have also been circulating as to new LIV player signings for 2025, however at time of press nothing had been confirmed. LIV Golf is scheduled to return to Australian shores for the hugely successful Adelaide event which tee off at The Grange Golf Club on Friday, February 14. Will Greg Norman still be the CEO of LIV Golf when the breakaway tour tees off in 2025? With Inside Golf Editor Rob Willis rob@insidegolf.com.au WINNERS ARE GRINNERS: Peter and Glynis Diamond on the Champions Deck at the Australian PGA, while Marianne Lee enjoyed her day in the Champions Club at the Australian Open. Scottie Scheffler, being congratulated by runner up Tom Kim, capped off an amazing 2024 with a win at the Hero World Challenge. Marianne an Aussie Open ‘champion’ for the day
January 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 7 Elvis singing in the Royal Queensland rain QUEENSLAND, or at least the south-east of the state, hardy lived up to the mantra of ‘beautiful one day, perfect the next’ during the week of the BWM Australian PGA Championship, however the inclement weather did little to dampen the excitement around the emergence of a new Australian golfing star. In showing his victory at the WA Open in October was no fluke, Gold Coast native Elvis Smylie took on arguably the best quality field of the pre-summer Australasian Tour schedule and came out on top in the weather affected event which was reduced to 54-holes. The 22-year-old stared down local hero Cam Smith on the last day, Smylie scrambling when necessary, rolling in birdie putts where needed, with nine pars on the run home enough to secure the biggest win of his fledgling career. “It’s a dream come true,” Smylie said. “I won’t forget this day, playing with Cam and Leish. I looked up to these guys since I was a kid and just being in their presence and compete against them for the title, I’ve learnt so much and just so grateful and so honoured right now.” His last day 67, for a 14-under par total, was two better than Smith, with another Gold Coast golfer in Anthony Quayle, tied with Victorian Marc Leishman a shot further back in third place. Defending champion Min Woo Lee enjoyed his best day of the tournament on Sunday, shooting a five-under par 66, before finishing tied for 15th on sevenunder par for the 54-holes of the event. Ironically the now captain of the LIV Golf Ripper team had welcomed Smylie into his Florida home as a Cameron Smith scholarship recipient back in 2019. The pair had begun the final round tied for the lead, before Smylie opened up a threeshot buffer on the outward nine. Former Tour player, course designer and golfing columnist Mike Clayton, who had caddied for Smylie, first as an amateur then as a rookie pro, while taking a keen interest in the young lefty’s career, another who had predicted future success. Clayton cited the near misses at tour qualifying schools and in various tournaments, as providing the necessary mental toughness for Smylie to get the job done when the pressure was at its greatest. “It was more stressful and complicated than necessary but his last four years as a pro, the failures, the close losses, as well as the win in the west, had prepared him well for what was, to this stage of his fledgling career, his first big test,” Clayton expressed in his column on the Golf Australia website. “I’ve long thought him our best young player and Goggin thinks him (to be) one of the few ‘who hits the ball well enough to play in the United States’.” However, before the ‘United States’, which may well await in Smylie’s golfing future, the DP World Tour is calling, with the win at Royal Queensland providing a full exemption in 2025. After the Australian Open in Melbourne, Smylie made the trip to South Africa to compete in the limited field Nedbank Challenge, where he finished a credible tie for 14th. PGA Championship Friday no party for the RQ grounds staff THE music blared and patrons on the par-three 17th Party Hole certainly enjoyed themselves for most of the week at the Australian PGA Championship, however the DJ took a break, and the speakers went silent on the Friday when torrential rains forced the abandonment of the day’s play. Almost 250mm of rain fell around the area of the Royal Queensland Golf Club over a seven-day period in the lead up, before continuing heavy rain on the Friday morning made it impossible for greens staff to prepare the course for play. Play was suspended for the day at 11.30am, with the decision also made to reduce the event to 54-holes, for the first time in the 95-year history of the tournament. The inability of players to take casual relief from water on the fairways the reason to abandon the day’s play. “You can obviously take relief from casual water, but if you haven’t got anywhere to go, you can’t get it,” Nick Dastey General Manager of Tournaments & Global Tour Relationships, said. “You need to be able to take full relief when taking relief from casual water. At the moment that’s not possible and it’s highly unlikely to be possible at any stage today. Course staff worked through the night to get the tournament back up and running on Saturday for round two, then for the finale on Sunday. And then the music played over the weekend! With the DJ and the 17th Party Hole back in full swing. The party hole was again a feature for spectators at the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland. Young gun Elvis Smylie, winner of the 2024 Australian PGA Championship.
January 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 8 Ryggs adds his name to impressive Australian Open honour roll GOLFING legends Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson, major champions Gene Sarazen, Bill Rogers and Mark Calcavecchia, more recently Jordan Speith, and the list of Americans to have won the Australian Open title need little introduction. Nicklaus won six times, Speith twice, most recently in 2016. When you add putting genius Brad Faxon, the straight hitting John Morse and eight-time US PGA Tour winner JC Snead and that makes 10 players from the USA to have taken home Australian golf’s most coveted trophy. Now there is another American name to add to the impressive honour role, with the unheralded Ryggs Johnston, a rookie Noosa Springs Golf & Spa Resort's championship golf course is located just 3km's from Noosa’s famous main beach & Hastings St. Open to the public every day to play, stay, dine and relax. NOOSA SPRINGS GOLF & SPA RESORT Play and Stay in the heart of Noosa noosasprings.com.au I 07 5440 3333 professional from Montana in the country’s north, the winner of the 2024 ISPS Handa Australian Open. “It’s just really cool to be in that group,” Johnston said when glancing at the names on the Stonehaven Cup. “I’m just pretty honoured to be able to put my name on it now too and I’ll cherish this moment forever.” While he certainly doesn’t possess anywhere near the resume of the previous champions, his performance on the final day would have done any of the past winners proud. The 24-year-old, world ranked 953 at the start of the week, began his last round with an eagle at Kingston Heath’s par five first, backed it up with a birdie at the third, and from there managed to keep his nose in front and the chasing pack at bay, his 18-under par total three shots clear of West Australian Curtis Luck. Victorian Marc Leishman tied for third with young gun Jasper Stubbs. Luck may have had the best opportunity to catch the American, however bogies at his final two holes stalled his charge. Young Sydneysider Harrison Crowe and NSW Open winner Lucas Herbert, the latter beginning the final day tied for the lead with Johnston, both remained in the hunt into the back nine on Sunday, before winding up in a tie for fifth. Making the win all the more remarkable for Johnston was the fact he was a late addition to the field for the event played at two venues, the Kingston Heath and Victoria Golf Clubs, arriving in Melbourne the day before the tournament, then teeing it up in the opening round without having played either course. With the victory, Johnston who had only two weeks before secured DP World Tour playing rights via the qualifying school, can now plan a full schedule of events in 2025. “Getting a win and hopefully getting into more tournaments and just knowing that I’ve secured pretty legit status now, it’s great,” Johnston said. The top three finishers earned a place at July’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush, with Leishman gaining the third spot ahead of Stubbs courtesy of his superior world ranking. Herbert scores first home win at Murray Downs HE may have stumbled over the closing nine at the Australian Open, however some three weeks earlier Lucas Herbert got the proverbial monkey off his back with his first victory on home soil. In difficult conditions on the final day, in front of family and friends who had made the short trip to Murray Downs from his home town of Bendigo, Herbert proved too good in turning a four-shot deficit after 54-holes into a victory at the Ford NSW Open. “It’s pretty special. There’s a very big contingent of the Bendigo crew here this week,” Herbert said. “I know it’s the NSW Open, but it feels like a home event. I look in the crowd here and see plenty of familiar faces that I know very, very well. I think it’ll be a very nice celebration tonight.” Herbert started the last day behind LIV Golf captain and teammate Cameron Smith, with his Sunday 67, for a 15-under par total, was enough to secure a two-shot win. Smith tied for second alongside Corey Lamb and Alex Simpson. Herbert had previously collected a handful of prestigious trophies overseas, the Dubai Desert Classic and Irish Open amongst three DP World Tour titles, added to one victory on the PGA Tour and teams’ success on the LIV Tour this year. He now has a Kel Nagle Cup to add to his collection and he didn’t have far to drive it home. Lucas Herbert scored his first home win with a victory at the Ford NSW Open. Ryggs Johnston became the 11th American to win the Australian Open title with a three-shot win at Kingston Heath.
January 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 9 Winning a habit for victorious Shin WHILE the men’s winner of the ISPS Handa Australian Open was notching his first tournament victory as a professional, for women’s champ Jiyai Shin winning was nothing new. The South Korean, a former world number one and with two major championship titles to her credit, held defending champion Ashlay Buhai at bay over Kingston Heath’s challenging run home to win the Women’s Open for the second time. It was the 65th tournament victory for Shin, her previous Australian Open triumph coming at Royal Canberra in 2013, with Australia obviously a happy hunting ground for the 36-yearold. It was Shin’s 10th appearance in the Australian Open. “Even yesterday, my Dad said Australia is something special for me. My Dad said ‘bring some sand. Send it in a bottle’,” Shin said. The defining moment on Sunday came early for Shin, while there was still plenty of holes to follow, a holed pitch shot from sandy rough on the par for forth hole for an eagle, arguably the shot that won her the tournament. “It’s like a gift for me,” Shin said later. A second eagle on the 10th after an approach with a hybrid club, and the tournament was as good as over. The tournament ended in a race in two, with Shin 17-under, two ahead of South African Buhai who was bidding to be the first player in the 50-year history of the event to notch three consecutive victories. Amateur Hyojin Yang was third at seven-under, while Australians Grace Kim with a last day 70, and Hannah Green who struggled on Sunday with a 78, tied for fourth. The drought continued for Australian women professionals in their national Open, with Karrie Webb the last winner back in 2014. Lot 1 5,617 sq.m. 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This unique offering is presented to the market For Sale by Tender, providing an exclusive opportunity to secure an unparalleled position within Holmwood Estate. Contact Grant Gillies or Meagan Holder to start your journey today. Grant Gillies Meagan Holder 0405 388 400 0403 057 461 02 6646 2400 grant.gillies@eldersrealestate.com.au 2/5 Yamba Street, Yamba NSW 2464 closing 21st Jan 2025 SOLD Smith comments spark debate over Australian Open format CAMERON Smith took a veiled swipe on the eve of Australian Open at a format that tries to fit three events into one. Smith, the main drawcard, before the tournament had even teed off on the Thursday, questioned the set-up of the Kingston Heath and Victoria courses, reasoning that perhaps in trying to be everything, for everyone, the traditional fire had purposely been taken out of the two sandbelt layouts. His comments went over like a led balloon, organisers expressing that no such instruction had been made to greens staff, and that recent wet weather had softened the two courses. And while Smith’s fellow players were guarded when asked to back up his opinions, rumours had long circulated that playing at two venues, at an event requiring men and women to share the fairways for the four days of the event, could also be keeping international players from making the trip down under to contest the tournament. Although neither player went on the record to explain or criticise, Adam Scott was a notable absentee this year, while Jason Day jetted straight out of Queensland and returned home to Ohio in the US following the PGA Championship the week prior. Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland would however respond to Smith’s comments, explaining the complications around trying to please all parties and that tournament organisers were exploring all options when it came to the future of the championship. “It’s no secret that some of our leading men’s players don’t like the format, but they like the date. And on the flip side, some of our leading female players don’t like the date, but like the format,” Sutherland said. “And so the simple answer to that is to separate the two events at different times… but it’s not quite that easy. “In the cold, hard light of day, we need to consider what we do in the best interest of Australian golf and make good decisions around that. There’s a whole lot of very, very important stakeholders that bring this event together and make it economically viable and financially sustainable.” A suitable 36-hole venue, where the men and women could be separated on two different courses but on the same property, is one possibility, with two of Australia’s best 36-hole facilities, Royal Melbourne East and West and Peninsula Kingswood’s North and South courses, located on the Sandbelt. A composite course at Royal Melbourne has held numerous Australian Open’s and many prestigious championships, however Peninsula Kingswood has yet to host a significant professional tournament. “The 36-hole venue could suit this event in its current format better than two courses. But I guess when you’re playing at courses like Kingston Heath and Victoria, there’s very, very few players complaining about that,” Sutherland added. – ROB WILLIS Jiyai Shin won her 65th professional tournament and second Australian Open title with a victory in the ISPS Handa Australian Open.
January 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 10 How was the trip to Queensland for you? How did you enjoy being back? I’m good, I’m still jet lagged unfortunately, which is kind of crazy to think. Typically, I deal with jetlag pretty well, but this time around it kind of kicked my butt. It was so nice to be able to get down to Australia again for the event. It had been a long time since I had been back there. It’s hard to believe it’s been seven years since I was last down there, and then on top of that 2011 or 2012 was the last time I was back in Brisbane playing a tournament. So it was nice to feel welcomed back home. The crowds were just great to be around and very supportive. The golf course was a lot of fun to play and a good challenge. We had probably 350 ml, 14 inches or so of rain in only four to five days during that week which was really crazy. I thought overall the golf course held up nicely and drained well. In the end it was unfortunate that we only played 54 holes, but we ended up getting the tournament in. I played decently, but I just didn’t have my very best stuff. I had about three and a half months off so it was kind of nice to be able to come back and finish that well. I just wish I was a little bit sharper. Did you get out to any other courses while you were there, and did the family go with you? No. I found out that I was going to play in Tiger’s event in the Bahamas while I was in Australia, so unfortunately the trip kind of shortened while I was there. I was going to be in Jason Day – A happy Queensland homecoming JASON DAY Q&A By Garrett Johnston the country for a few more days. I didn’t end up taking my family out. I was originally planning on taking them with me, but I only ended up being out there for eight days. I ended up treating it like a normal tournament and I literally flew out the Sunday night of the event. I was at the airport at 8pm that night, flying back to Ohio. When would you hope to get back to Australia and have the family come for the first time? (Son) Dash has not been there before and the other kids either. I was trying to get Dash to come down with me, but mom put a complete nix on that. She was like, “you don’t even know when to feed him.” I was “yeah, that’s probably true”, (laughs) so I’m hoping, fingers crossed, that next year would be great and when I get some time off in the fall next year, if I could get the whole family down there. If not, another time we will try to make it happen. That leads to a question, when have you felt most fulfilled in your life? Well, it definitely wasn’t when I was world number one. And I mean yeah, it really wasn’t at all. I seriously thought that getting to world number one would make me feel more fulfilled, but it’s funny, the more and more time I spend away from my family, the more kids that I add to my family, the more that happens. I just feel more fulfilled when I have more time with my kids after time away from them. A lot of times I want to get back to my family, so as the years have progressed, I’ve definitely enjoyed having more kids and more time at home. Greg Chalmers mentioned to me that the feeling of winning can be a lonely feeling, because you’re at the course and everyone’s left. Yes, and being on the road can be lonely because you’re in hotel rooms by yourself. So, you can definitely win and not have that support system around you, and it’s really difficult. Fortunately enough for me I’m able to bring my family out with me on the road. We homeschool and travel around on a bus, so we’re a tight-knit family. We’re like a little tribe that goes around everywhere. What do you do really well at Augusta, based on your strong record there, and what do you need to do to get in the mix this year? Typically, in the past when I’ve played really well there, my iron play and overall approach to the green stats have been really good. So to play well there this year, I need to have those dialed in. It’s so important to know where you can and where you can’t miss the greens at Augusta. You may miss one green, but depending on the hole, it’s not worth stressing out over it because you know it’s a doable up and down. Once you know your misses and you’re striking the ball well coming into the greens, that definitely takes a lot of pressure off not only the short game side of things, but you also know in your mind that you’re going to keep giving yourself opportunities. That’s important at Augusta. You don’t really have to do anything too crazy, you don’t have to take on the corners, you can hit to the centre of the greens. Obviously, you will have a longer iron shot coming into the greens if you don’t take on too much of the corners off the tee, but that’s ok. You can be conservatively aggressive around that place. But if you have a good short game, it definitely helps to alleviate some of the stress when you do miss a green. How much would you relish the chance to win the green jacket? It’s something that I’ve dreamed about my whole life. And I try not to think about it too much because I tend to psych myself out a little bit. But just thinking about it now makes me look forward to the moment of being able to have that opportunity at Augusta again. It’s just amazing. Are you comfortable on property at Augusta National now? Yeah. I feel comfortable and familiar with the place. I’ve been going there for so long that I know the course pretty well and I know exactly where to hit it and where not to hit it. Although sometimes I struggle with controlling the ball to get into that ideal position, I just thoroughly enjoy the week, it’s such a unique and cool place to be able to be a part of. Not only being a professional there, but also being part of the history of playing that event. How are you feeling with the amount you’re able to practice with your body at this point? Overall, I feel good. I’m able to put in the time I need. I think every now and again you just get little injuries that pop up, actually more like flare-ups you would say. But honestly, knock on wood, the whole year’s been really great for me in 2024. I haven’t really had any problems to complain about, which has been fantastic and encouraging for me. That means that the stuff that I’m working technically and the stuff that I’m working on with my body is going in the correct direction. I’m excited about that. I’ve just got to stay patient, stay the course and then see how it goes. But my body feels good at the moment. Apopular addition to the field at the recent Australian PGA Championship, Jason Day performed strongly, finished in the top 10 and was well received by the crowds. Following his first tournament appearance on home soil after an absence of seven years, Day spoke to Inside Golf’s US correspondent Garrett Johnston upon his return to the US, expressing a desire to return home in the near future, about his family and his five children and of his chances of challenging for a green jacket at the Masters in April. Local crowds warmed to Jason Day in his first tournament appearance on home soil in seven years.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY FULL SCHEDULE AND BROADCAST INFORMATION WEBEX PLAYERS SERIES PERTH 9 – 12 January, 2025 Royal Fremantle Golf Club WEBEX PLAYERS SERIES VICTORIA 23 – 26 January, 2025 Rosebud Country Club WEBEX PLAYERS SERIES MURRAY RIVER 30 January – 2 February, 2025 Cobram Barooga Golf Club WEBEX PLAYERS SERIES SYDNEY 20 – 23 February, 2025 Castle Hill Country Club
January 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 12 BRENDAN Jones will become the 10th fully exempt Australian on the PGA TOUR Champions when he turns 50 in March after winning one of five tour cards at the recent qualifying school. After a sluggish front nine on the last day, Jones was left with work to do, however five closing birdies, including on the 17th and 18th holes, for 31 on his homeward nine, and the Canberran finished in the final qualifying position. However, on the other end of the scale, while it was joy for Jones there was despair for the Australian duo of Andre Stolz and Scott Barr after they were leapfrogged by their fellow countryman, the pair finished one shot shy of claiming playing rights to the world’s most lucrative professional over 50’s circuit. Jones shot 67-69-66-68, 14-under par for the 72-hole event, with Soren Kjeldsen the medalist in streeting the field, his 24-under *Tour extensions available on request VIETNAM GOLF TOUR 2025 ATTEND THE US MASTERS IN 2025 • Enjoy WED, FRI & SUN at The Masters • Play Pebble Beach, Pinehurst & others • Dedicated Tour Host • Private transfers throughout • 3 fine dining experiences • Private housing only minutes from Augusta National • Captivating 12 day journey • Round-trip flights, private airport transfers and luxury accommodations • Golf at prestigious courses such as Long Thanh, Montgomerie Links and Sky Lake • Cultural tours and overnight cruise • Daily breakfast, selected lunches and dinners, including a special street food tour in Hanoi ROVOS RAIL GOLF SAFARI SOUTH AFRICA 2025 Experience the Ultimate Blend of Golf and Safari Adventure ALL INFORMATION IS CORRECT AT TIME OF PRINT AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANCE WITHOUT NOTICE, DUE TO MATTERS OUTSIDE OUR CONTROL SUCH AS ADVERSE CURRENCY FLUCTUATIONS, TAXES AND FUEL SURCHARGES. MASTERS PACKAGES FROM AS LITTLE AS $5000USD PER PERSON total eight better than another Swede in Freddie Jacobson. He finished tied with American Mark Walker and Chile’s Felipe Aguilar in taking the last three places. Another Australian in Mat Goggin, who mixes tournament appearances with his responsibilities in getting the Seven Mile Beach Golf course project up and running in Hobart, Tasmania, was also well in the mix heading into the final day before ultimately finishing 14th. Players who reached the last stage of qualifying and finished sixth to 30th earn the right to play Champions Tour Monday qualifying events in 2025, this group including Stolz, Barr, Goggin and Queenslander Brad Kennedy. While he has limited experience in the US, although Jones did win on the thensecondary Nationwide Tour in 2004, he has been a success story in Asia, primarily in Japan where he has won 15 tournaments ……while it’s also PGA TOUR qualifying time THE Champions Tour school was run and won during the first week of December, however 171 players were chasing just five PGA TOUR memberships at the final stage of qualifying later in the month. To be contested across 72 holes, with event was to see the field playing two rounds at TPC Sawgrass’ Dye’s Valley Course and two rounds at Sawgrass Country Club in Jacksonville, Florida. The top five and ties will earn TOUR cards, and the next 40 finishers and ties guaranteed starts on the 2025 Korn Ferry Tour. The following 20 finishers and ties will earn guaranteed starts on 2025 PGA TOUR Americas and the remainder of finishers will hold conditional status on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR Americas. The 2024 qualifying event represents the first time since 2012 that players can win their way onto the PGA TOUR, with the final qualifying stage having only granted secondary Korn Ferry Tour status for more than a decade. The final stage of qualifying has drawn a field with a number of big names and former winners, including the likes of South African Garrick Higgo, South Korean S H Kim, Scotsman Martin Laird and Americans Scott Piercy, Chez Reavie and Nick Watney, just to name a few. Australian Rhein Gibson, now based in Edmond Oklahoma, won his way through the final stage in the second round of qualifying in Savanah, Georgia. The 38-year-old Gibson, who has made 61 starts on PGA TOUR previously and has two Korn Ferry Tour victories to his credit, shot 18-under in Savanah to finish fifth and progress to the finals. Others Australian in young gun Quinn Crocker and Asian Tour regular Travis Smyth were eliminated at the second stage of qualifying. since joining the tour in 2001. Jones was rookie of the year in Japan in 2002 and the Australian Amateur Champion in 1999, while his most recent win on the Australasian Tour was the 2023 New Zealand Open. The Australians are now a powerful force on the PGA TOUR Champions, led by Richard Green who finished third in 2024 behind Kiwi Steve Alker in the season-long Schwab Cup. Cameron Percey, who also enjoyed a strong rookie season on the senior circuit, was qualifying school medalist in 2023, with Green finishing on top at the 2022 Tour School. Rod Pampling, Greg Chalmers, Mark Hensby, Stuart Appleby and Percey all played in the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship in early December which was restricted to the leading 35 players on the 2024 points list. The last win on the Australasian Tour for Brendan Jones came at the 2023 New Zealand Open. Brendan Jones is headed for the PGA TOUR Champions in 2025 after successfully negotiating the qualifying school. Jones adds to Aussie contingent on PGA TOUR Champions
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January 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 14 Shark strike convinced ‘Gibbo’ to pursue a teaching career IT’S the last week of November, and Mark Gibson (aka Gibbo) is celebrating a significant milestone – 30 years as a fulltime teaching professional at Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast. Mind you, the 66-year-old, who runs Exceptional Golf at Royal Pines, was wellcredentialled long before arriving there after having spent time working as a club and teaching professional at Royal Queensland, Gladstone, Keperra, Pine Rivers and Caloundra golf clubs. At Royal Queensland, Gibbo worked with the legendary Charlie Earp as did Greg Norman who did his traineeship under the master coach. While Norman pursued a playing career, Gibbo chose the teaching pathway that has brought its own success – two PGA Australian Teacher of the Year awards and three PGA Queensland Teacher of the Year awards. Norman and Gibson seldom crossed paths in the early years, but one day their worlds collided at a PGA trainee tournament and that was the catalyst for Gibbo deciding a teaching career would be his best option. “I didn’t have a lot to do with Greg, but he played a pivotal role in me wanting to coach,” he explained. “The first trainee event I played in 1976 was at a course at Coomera, which no longer exists. I had a 7.10 tee time and, being my first ever pro event, I didn’t want to attract a penalty for being late to the tee so I walked to the tee when the 7am group were about to tee off. “On the tee in that group was a guy called Greg Norman. He’s hit this tee shot and the sound of it and the flight of it was unbelievable and I thought to myself, ‘I hope I can coach’. “It was a golf shot that I had never seen, heard or dreamt of. The crack of the persimmon driver on the balata ball was amazing.” Gibson, who did his traineeship under Reg Want at Coolangatta Tweed Heads, went to work for Charlie Earp at RQ before accepting a position as head pro at Gladstone GC in Central Queensland. After five years, he was lured back to Brisbane when Keperra CGC head pro, Ian Triggs, sought an assistant. “My time with Triggsy cemented the idea that I wanted to coach,” Gibbo said. “We agreed to spend half a day a week shooting the breeze over coaching techniques, mechanics and the philosophy of coaching.” For Gibson, the seed was well and truly planted and he took off for Pine Rivers as head pro for a spell and then moved to Caloundra where coaching took up much of his time. Since arriving at Royal Pines Resort, Gibbo has taught thousands of students eager to hone their skills. Even celebrities like Jackie Stewart, the Scotsman who won three Formula One world titles, and Australian V8 Supercar series championship winner Marcus Ambrose have turned up for lessons. “I love coaching and I have been lucky enough to have a lifetime of being out in the fresh-air and sunshine dealing with people,” Gibbo said. “It’s an ever-changing environment because you can’t coach two lessons the same. You have people that learn differently, react differently, have different physical capabilities and people with different ambitions. “Every lesson you give is a new challenge – even when you coach someone long-term the challenges change a bit because their attitude to golf changes. “So, the students teach me as much as I teach them. People say to me they play golf to enjoy it but end up being the most competitive people on the planet because they get to 15 and then want to get to nine and then to six.” Gibbo’s tip: don’t set unrealistic goals when it comes to reducing your handicap. “One of my steepest learning curves was when I went to Pine Rivers,” he explained. “I had a lady come to me on a 25 handicap. She wanted to get down to 18 and I said it would take nine to 12 months. “We did that in nine months and she asked ‘can I get down to 12’? We changed focus and that was achieved in 10 months. Then she wanted to get down to single figures she eventually got down to a two handicap. “If someone off 25 had asked me to get them down to two I would have seen that as a bridge too far, but by breaking it down and setting goals along the way, we were able to achieve it. “Right there and then I decided I’m never going to say no to a student who is willing to breaking their goal down into pieces. That still works today.” FOOTNOTE: In 2022, Gibson was awarded life membership of the PGA of Australia joining the likes of Norman von Nida, Peter Thomson, Kel Nagle, Charlie Earp, Paul King, Alex and Dave Mercer, Peter Senior, Graham Marsh, Rodger Davis, Ian Baker-Finch and as featured in a previous edition of Inside Golf, Dennis Brosnan and Kyle Francis. Between 2010-16, Gibson was the chairman of the PGA of Australia contributing to training young players. “The updating of the education program for PGA members was one of our big steps forward as was aligning our targets with Golf Australia,” he said. “We started the ball rolling, and it has continued in a much bigger vein. The golf industry is now much more united with the Women’s PGA, PGA of Australia and Golf Australia sharing services and offices.” PGA Awards - Greg Norman Medal IN addition to Hannah Green’s second Greg Norman Medal, as announced in the December issue of Inside Golf, another nine high achievers were singled out and acknowledged at the PGA Awards Gala Dinner, held during the week of the recent Australian PGA Championship. More than 350 guests, including Cam Smith, Jason Day, Min Woo Lee and others competing at Royal Queensland later that week, attended the awards ceremony at Brisbane City Hall, with Green’s Greg Norman Medal the highlight of the 10 awards presented throughout the evening. Accepting the Greg Norman Medal on Green’s behalf was her coach, Ritchie Smith, himself named PGA National Coach of the Year – High Performance. It was a fourth national win for Smith, with the West Australian coaching a number of leading players, including Green, Min Woo and Minjee Lee, as well as Elvis Smylie, winner of the Australian PGA and a recent addition to the Smith stable of players. Brisbane Golf Club’s Asha Flynn won the PGA National Coach of the Year – Game Development for the second year in succession, while Catalina Club’s Rodney Booth was named 2024 PGA National Club Professional of the Year. General Manager at Eastlake Golf Club, Robert Blain was awarded PGA National Management Professional of the Year, threetime winner and Order of Merit champion Kazuma Kobori was named PGA Tour of 2024 PGA Awards Greg Norman Medal: Hannah Green PGA National Coach of the Year – High Performance: Ritchie Smith (Royal Fremantle GC) PGA National Coach of the Year – Game Development: Asha Flynn (Brisbane GC) PGA National Club Professional of the Year: Rodney Booth (Catalina Club G&CC) PGA National Management Professional of the Year: Robert Blain (Eastlake GC) MyGolf Deliverer of the Year: Jake Newbery (KDV Sport) International Member of the Year: Ashley Marsay (San Francisco Golf Club) PGA Tour of Australasia Player of the Year: Kazuma Kobori Margie Masters WPGA Tour of Australasia Player of the Year: Cassie Porter Legends Tour Player of the Year: Andre Stolz Kazuma Kobori, named 2024 PGA Tour of Australasia Player of the Year at the annual Greg Norman Medal, PGA Awards night. David Newbery david@insidegolf.com.au Teaching professional Mark Gibson believes he made the right call on his career choice. Australasia Player of the Year, LPGA Tourbound Cassie Porter received her first Margie Masters WPGA Tour of Australasia Player of the Year award and Andre Stolz was named PGA Legends Tour Player of the Year for the fourth straight year. Jason Day, Min Woo Lee and Cam Smith entertained the crowd at the Greg Norman Medal, PGA Awards night.
January 2025 www.insidegolf.com.au PRO NEWS 15 “It’s a massive rookie error on my part. I had just assumed on this tour we play preferred lie a lot. I just didn’t think too much more of it. I’m kicking myself now.” Remarkably, Quayle managed a one-over par score of 73 on the day, despite seven shots being added, before going on to make the cut, then play his way into contention on Sunday. There would be no miracle in the final washup, Quayle would eventually close with a 69 to finish 12-under and in third behind friend and fellow Sanctuary Cove member Crawford and American Tyler McCumber. “I’m sure when I reflect on this in a little bit of time, I’ll be really proud of this week,” he said. Runner-up McCumber would also have reflected on the fact that in round one, playing alongside Quayle, he too was penalised two strokes for taking preferred lie mistakenly. McCumber would finish one shot behind the winner. Cory’s ‘back’ with Vic PGA win CORY Crawford, a 32-year-old Queenslander who plays out of Sanctuary Cove Golf Club on the Gold Coast, has scored a memorable win with a oneshot victory in the Vic PGA Championship played at Moonah Links. More than seven years after his one and only PGA Tour of Australasia victory, which came in Port Moresby in 2017, Crawford has put a series of debilitating injuries behind him in notching a second tour win, which comes after overcoming a back fracture that wasn’t originally diagnosed. Crawford holed a right-to-left birdie putt from four metres at the 72nd hole at Moonah, for a last day 68 and 72-hole total of 14-under par, before watching Florida’s Tyler McCumber come unstuck on the final green. Viewing proceedings on a phone from the driving range where he was preparing for a playoff, Crawford was able to celebrate when the American’s putt to tie from less than a metre, slid by the hole. The miss was a brutal blow for McCumber, the son of 10-time PGA Tour winner Mark, and who has teed it up some 60 times on the US PGA Tour. McCumber, also on the road back after recovering from his own injury issues had looked the winner for much of the last day. Crawford was presented with the Jack Harris Cup by Marilyn Harris, the daughter of the late six-time winner of the event. $3520* Pricing From Almost a miracle for Quayle at Moonah QUEENSLANDER Anthony Quayle came close, finishing third, just two strokes from the winner Cory Crawford at the Vic PGA Championship. That, however, was only part of the story. After coming off previous tournaments where a preferred lie rule was in place, Quayle misread the rules sheet, which stated a preferred lie was in place only for a portion of the third fairway. Quayle called a rules official, alerting him to the fact he’d picked up his ball on four occasions and was penalised two strokes for hitting from the wrong place on three of his shots, and one stroke for the other (because he replaced the ball in the same place, just a few centimetres off the green). “Our last three tournaments on tour have been preferred lie. The document I was handed is a little half-page document that is highlighted ‘preferred lie’ and highlighted ‘scorecard length’,” Quayle explained. “A lot’s gone on. It’s been pretty difficult at times. To be in this is pretty special,” Crawford said. Injuries have prevented him from playing much golf at all in the past few years after suffering an injury in the gym. The injury turned out to be a fracture of the T10 vertebrae but the diagnosis came later, after he had attempted to play through the pain. “It’s still a management process,” he said. “I’m still at the stage where if I move the wrong way it can come back again. But every day that doesn’t happen I’m getting further and further away from going back to where I was.” Crawford described himself as being “on my third restart” from the back issue, however he felt the win vindicated for all the work he has done. “I’ve worked really hard with (coach) Terry Price on trying to improve the ball striking. It feels really good to hit some good shots under the pump,” he said. – ADDITIONAL REPORTING MARTIN BLAKE – GOLF AUSTRALIA After overcoming injury issues, Cory Crawford has bounced back in style, winning the Vic PGA at Moonah Links. After adding seven penalty stokes to his score on day one, it was almost a miracle win by Anthony Quayle at the Vic PGA. Close but no cigar for American Tyler McCumber, second at the Vic PGA at Moonah Links.
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