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The Australian Golf Industry Council (AGIC) has today unveiled a report that reveals golf provides $3.3 billion in total annual benefits to the Australian community, economy and environment.
The 2023 Community Benefits of Golf in Australia report was commissioned by the AGIC, comprising the key national bodies of the golf industry in Australia, including the PGA of Australia, Golf Australia and the WPGA Tour of Australasia,
It was conducted by SGS Economics & Planning and details the wide-ranging and sizeable benefits of golf through quantified data and a robust methodology.
Headlining the report’s findings are the $3.3 billion in total annual benefits of golf; the growing and deepening participation in all forms of golf; and golf’s estimated annual household expenditure of $10.3 billion.
It also shows that 37 percent of adult Australians – a total of 7.23 million people – say they have visited a golf facility as a non-player.
The health benefits of golf are highlighted by the fact Australian golfers walk 280 million kilometres annually, or the equivalent to more than 7000 laps between the Earth and our moon.
On-course golfers are also happier than those who don’t get outdoors to play the game, rating 7.1 percent higher in subjective health and wellbeing compared to non-round golfers.
“Golf is big, it is different and it is changing, and this report quantifies that statement while providing the necessary, and enlightening, data to help change the perception of golf,” WPGA Tour of Australasia CEO and AGIC Chair Karen Lunn said.
“Golfers are happier and healthier because of this great game, and they are providing significant benefits to their communities and the wider Australian economy and environment through their participation.”
The benefits outlined in the report are partly created by the 3.5 million Australians who play a form of golf – 2.2 million on course, 1.3 million off course – across 1603 places to play around Australia.
These numbers make golf one of the country’s largest participation sports.
Golf’s contribution to the Australian economy is valued at $394 million for businesses and $122 million for industry workers, while the best example of sport’s huge economic impact is the $336 million of benefits provided via golf tourism.
Annually, 1.6 million domestic overnight trips are made by Australians, and another 150,000 international tourists visit, for the purpose of golf, with their spending covering items such as green fees, food, accommodation, and transportation.
“We know golf is huge in Australia and this report provides all the evidence,” PGA of Australia CEO Gavin Kirkman said.
“For the PGA, golf is a sport that provides a livelihood to our members through employment and running businesses where customer experience is of the highest priority.
“But golf is much more than that as this report explains – its social benefits, health benefits and environmental benefits are enormous.”
The report shows an additional 166,000 Australians would be considered physically inactive without golf, saving the health system $49 million, and the physical health benefits for all golfers total $423 million.
Meanwhile, through the physical exercise, social interaction and time in natural landscapes, the annual mental health benefit derived from golf is calculated at $439 million.
“The health benefits of golf are well established, including reduced risk factors for several chronic illnesses. This report adds to other academic research with detailed findings on just how beneficial golf is to the Australian community,” Golf Australia CEO James Sutherland said.
“Golf is different and getting bigger, and with this data showcasing its benefits we hope this continues to encourage more people to engage with our sport, experience our places to play and experience improved health and wellbeing.”
Like every element of society, a key focus for golf in the current day and moving forward is how the game interacts with and helps the environment.
The Community Benefits of Golf in Australia report details an annual environmental benefit of $890 million created by golf.
These benefits include water filtration and purification, flood and stormwater protection, carbon sequestration, urban cooling and significantly higher biodiversity than public parks.
Clearly outlining the significant detail of these benefits, and more, the Community Benefits of Golf in Australia is available at golf.org.au and it is hoped will serve as valuable resource to the industry and reference point for broader conversations about golf and its place and value in for Australian community.
“This report has been a significant undertaking for the Australian Golf Industry Council and it will prove to be of high value moving forward,” Lunn said.
“Golf as a game, lifestyle and its facilities as community hubs, shares undeniable and substantial benefits to Australia and the details found in the report show that in a way and depth that has never previously been available.”
The Australian Golf Industry Council (AGIC) was established in 2006 as a group comprising the key national bodies of the golf industry in Australia, designed to work together for the common good of the game and the industry.
The AGIC includes representatives from PGA of Australia, Golf Australia, WPGA Tour of Australasia, Australian Sports Turf Managers Association, Australian Sporting Goods Association, Golf Management Australia and Society of Australian Golf Course Architects.
South Australian Lachlan Barker will treat a rare home game like any other week on tour after climbing into the top spot on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit.
Champion Ben Eccles was the big mover at the WA PGA Championship as the chase for Order of Merit points heats up, the 28-year-old Victorian climbing into third place with his five-stroke win in Kalgoorlie.
Victorious at the PNG Open in May, Barker was in the pack of those giving chase to Eccles in Sunday’s final round, shooting 2-under 70 to finish tied for third with New Zealand’s Kit Bittle.
Earning 61 Order of Merit points saw Barker leapfrog both Daniel Gale and Simon Hawkes into first spot ahead of this week’s latest addition to the Webex Players Series, the Webex Players Series South Australia.
Host course this week, Willunga Golf Club, is across the road from Barker’s childhood home, providing the rare opportunity to sleep in his own bed, enjoy mum’s home-cooked meals and walk to the golf course each day.
But despite the unique circumstances, Barker is determined to stick to his routine and extend his advantage in the season-long points race.
“The way I’m going to go ahead and treat it is just like any other week,” Barker insisted.
“I’m sure there might be some external things that I’ll be doing away from golf but apart from that, treating it like every other week.
“Being in routine is when I play my best. Yes, it means a lot, I’m definitely in the points race and points mean a lot at this point but the way to get them is to do the same thing I do every week.
“If I go and treat it differently I don’t see myself getting the result I want.
“No added pressure, treat it like any other week, do my thing.”
Eccles’ sudden elevation into third bears a remarkable similarity to that of last year’s Order of Merit winner and fellow Kalgoorlie conqueror, David Micheluzzi.
After spending more than five years playing in Europe and a year split between the Asian Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia last year, Eccles was close to quitting altogether.
After earning his Australasian Tour card back in April, he and coach Grant Field made the Aussie summer his sole focus.
It yielded the ultimate result with a win that was eight years in the making and which has provided even greater clarity for what is to come.
“I can book all my travel now,” said Eccles, whose Q School category did not guarantee him starts in every event this summer.
“I may not have even gotten into the Australian Open and the Australian PGA and New Zealand Open but this changes a lot.
“It puts me in a position on the Order of Merit that I have wanted to be in for a while.”
The top three on the Order of Merit at the completion of the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia season earn cards on the DP World Tour in 2025. The winner of the Order of Merit also receives a spot in the field at The Open Championship.
Order of Merit through WA PGA Championship
1 Lachlan Barker 235.64 (4)
2 Simon Hawkes 196.21 (3)
3 Ben Eccles 194.42 (3)
4 Daniel Gale 190.00 (1)
5 Chris Crabtree 114.31 (3)
6 Haydn Barron 107.00 (2)
7 Jason Norris 89.00 (2)
7 Connor McKinney 89.00 (2)
9 Michael Wright 83.29 (4)
10 Andrew Campbell 80.58 (4)
Photo: Jarrod Lucas/PGA of Australia
Australians Min Woo Lee and Rod Pampling have fired in round one and continued the momentum to take home trophies at the SJM Macao Open on the Asian Tour and the SAS Championship on the PGA Tour Champions.
Lee smashed the tournament scoring record of 20-under set by fellow Aussie Scott Hend in 2015 but his 30-under total would only just prove to be enough, triumphing over Thailand’s Poom Saksansin.
Two strokes clear heading into the final round, Lee carded an 8-under par 63, a score matched by Saksansin in an absorbing Sunday afternoon duel.
After a string of top-10s against high quality fields including at the US Open and Players Championship, it was Lee’s first win since the 2021 Scottish Open.
“Poom played unbelievable today, he’s a bad mofo!” said Lee in his inimitable style.
“I played wonderful, really flawless golf for a lot of the holes. There was only a few holes that I could really look back on.
“I’m really proud of the way I handled myself.”
On the PGA Tour Champions, Pampling was able to edge out Kiwi Steven Alker by two shots, finishing at 15-under in North Carolina to claim his second title in the over-50s.
Pampling never looked back after an opening round 66, on his way to a US$315,000 payday.
“We’ve been working hard and it’s finally – got rid of our bad stuff about a month and a half ago and it’s just been getting closer and closer, and this week was just great,” Pampling said
“Great ball-striking day – week I should say and putting as well. Everything was just nice. Yeah, it’s a great feeling to win again, that’s for sure.”
On the LPGA Tour, Karis Davidson had a strong week in China, finishing in a season’s best T8 at the Buick LPGA Shanghai after being in a share for the lead on a tight leaderboard for most of the back nine.
It was a huge result for the Queenslander who moved from 97th to 88th on the season-long Race to the CME Globe to just about ensure her full playing rights inside the top 100 for 2024.
On the PGA TOUR, Cam Davis made it five top-tens in his last six starts, finishing T7 at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
Meanwhile Brad Kennedy finished T3 – his best result for 2023 – at the Japan Open Golf Championship on the Japan Golf Tour to bank around A$100,000.
PGA TOUR
Shriners Children’s Open
TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada
1 Tom Kim (USA) 68-68-62-66—264 US$1,512,000
T7 Cam Davis 67-67-67-66—267 US$238,000
T56 Harrison Endycott 70-68-71-69—278 US$19,236
MC Lucas Herbert 71-70
MC Craig Hocknull 75-77
DP World Tour
acciona Open de España
Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
1 Matthieu Pavon (FRA) 63-68-66-64—261 €523,823.04
T9 Daniel Hillier (NZ) 71-67-66-66—270 €53,229.66
T20 Jason Scrivener 69-71-66-67—273 €33,470.75
LPGA Tour
LPGA Buick Shanghai
Qizhong Garden Golf Club, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
1 Angel Yin (USA) 70-69-65-70—274 US$315,000
T8 Karis Davidson 71-69-68-68—276 US$43,644
T13 Minjee Lee 70-69-69-69—277 US$32,539
T36 Grace Kim 73-74-69-67—283 US$11,933
T50 Lydia Ko (NZ) 74-69-73-70—286 US$7,063
Asian Tour
SJM Macao Open
Macau Golf and Country Club, Macau
1 Min Woo Lee 62-64-65-63—254 US$180,000
T9 Ben Campbell (NZ) 63-68-68-69—268 US$20,250
T11 Andrew Dodt 65-67-72-65—269 US$15,066.67
T11 Nick Voke 72-65-65-67—269 US$15,066.67
T17 Zach Murray 70-65-65-70—270 US$12,083.33
T23 Jack Thompson 65-69-72-66—272 US$9,700
T28 Sam Brazel 67-68-69-69—273 US$8,166.67
T34 Kevin Yuan 68-68-69-69—274 US$7,200
T34 Tom Power-Horan 70-65-69-70—274 US$7,200
T40 Josh Younger 69-68-68-71—276 US$6,033.33
MC Todd Sinnott 67-72
MC Scott Hend 70-69
MC Harrison Gilbert-Wong 67-73
MC Douglas Klein 73-68
MC Terry Pilkadaris 70-72
MC Marcus Fraser 71-72
MC John Lyras 72-71
MC David Gleeson 71-76
Japan Golf Tour
Japan Open Golf Championship
Ibaraki Country Club (West Cse)
1 Aguri Iwasaki 68-72-67-65—272 ¥42,000,000
T3 Brad Kennedy 68-69-69-68—274 ¥9,828,000
T36 Anthony Quayle 71-70-69-74—284 ¥1,260,000
MC Adam Scott 73-73
MC Jeffery Yu Guan 76-71
MC Adam Bland 77-73
PGA TOUR Champions
SAS Championship
Prestonwood CC, Cary, North Carolina
1 Rod Pampling 66-68-67—201 US$315,000
2 Steven Alker (NZ) 67-68-68—203 US$184,800
T11 Richard Green 70-67-71—208
T20 Stuart Appleby 72-69-70—211
T35 David McKenzie 70-72-72—214
T60 Mark Hensby 73-69-78—220
T68 John Senden 71-74-77—222
Photos: Mike Mulholland/Getty Images | Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour
Ben Eccles didn’t dare look at the leaderboard once as he endured “the most uncomfortable” round of his life to win the CKB WA PGA Championship at Kalgoorlie Golf Course.
A six-shot leader through 54-holes, Eccles’ 23-under total and five-stroke victory masks the turmoil of a restless night’s sleep, two chats with coach Grant Field between rounds and a host of challengers who bridged the gap to just three before the final group made the turn.
If he’d cared to look, Eccles would have known that Haydn Barron (65), Lachlan Barker (70), Kit Bittle (70), James Gibellini (67) and James Marchesani (69) fancied their chances of reeling in the runaway leader at various times in the final round.
Par putts at seven and eight would prove crucial in Eccles holding his nerve, but it was a holed bunker shot on nine that he called the “best shot I’ve ever hit” and a duffed approach that went to a foot to set up birdie on 10 that would ultimately keep the pack at bay.
Barron loomed as the greatest threat had Eccles lost his nerve, but birdies at 16 and 17 ensured the 28-year-old would play the final hole five strokes clear.
Not that he knew that.
“I had no idea,” Eccles said of the leaderboard that changed furiously below his name.
“I knew I had to keep pushing. There are so many good players in there… I haven’t even looked at the leaderboard. Who came second? When you’ve got someone like that (Barron) in contention, you know he’s going to shoot a good score.
“You know he’s made for that moment so I said to myself on the 10th tee, ‘Stick to what you’ve been doing, keep applying yourself the way you want, keep trying to play the game the way that you want to play it.’”
Although it is Eccles’ second win on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, it is his first as a professional.
He won the 2015 NSW Open as a 20-year-old amateur and seemingly had the golf world at his feet.
As he contemplated what that 20-year-old expected life to be like, the enormity of what he had achieved and how far he has had to go to achieve it came flooding to the surface.
“At that age I thought everything was to come,” said Eccles.
“I thought things would be pretty easy, to be honest. And it’s been absolutely far from that.
“It’s been a tough road.
“It’s such an uncomfortable feeling, being in contention and leading, constantly backing yourself.
“It’s really, really hard to do, particularly not having been there for a while.
“I’m pretty lost for words.”
Barron’s 65 for outright second at 18-under was a remarkable result for a player who only arrived from Scotland on the morning of the tournament.
He credited that 72 on day one for providing the foundation for a strong week that was suggested he would be better off missing.
“I spoke to a few people that were close to me coming back from Scotland and they said maybe skip it. But I said I wanted to play,” said Barron, who will tee it up next week at the inaugural Webex Players Series South Australia.
“I needed to come and try and get some points and we’ll get a few points this week so that’s a good start.
“Probably makes the remainder of the year less stressful.”
It’s been a whirlwind week, too, for Lachlan Wood, winner of the WA PGA All Abilities Championship.
Victorious in the WA All Abilities Open at Joondalup last Sunday, Wood flew back to Brisbane to play the 72-hole Queensland PGA Associate Championship where he finished fourth.
He then made the mad dash back to Perth and flew out to Kalgoorlie the day before the first round.
He led Cameron Pollard by one heading into the final round but had to fight back late to earn a seven-shot win.
Pollard played the front nine in 1-under on Sunday to take the lead but a 2-under back nine sparked by an eagle at the par-5 11th saw Wood complete the WA quinella for the first time.
“He was definitely putting up a good challenge and took the lead pretty early on,” Wood said of Pollard’s early salvo.
“On the back nine I managed to regroup, flicked the switch and rolled a really nice putt in.
“I’m definitely beyond tired. I’m looking forward to a good rest that’s for sure.”
Photo: Jarrod Lucas/PGA of Australia
A change to his putting grip and a new strategy on the greens proved a winning combination for Nicholas Robb at the Mollymook NSW Senior Masters.
Trailing by two at the start of Round 2, Robb’s putter proved pivotal in his second round of 1-under 71, the second-best of the day at Mollymook Golf Club’s Hilltop Course.
His 36-hole total of even par 144 was just enough to edge defending champion Chris Taylor (72) by a single shot with Adam Henwood (74) and Mark Boulton (75) sharing third.
HOW THE WINNING ROUND UNFOLDED
Playing the second round with Steven Conran and Roland Baglin, Robb turned in 2-under thanks to birdies on two, six and nine, his birdie at the par-3 ninth a mere formality after hitting his tee shot to just two feet.
Bogeys at 11 and 12 brought a host of players into the mix but a birdie on 14 and another brilliant tee shot at the par-3 17th secured a one-shot win.
WHAT THE WINNER SAID
“I’m really happy with how I played. The game-plan going in was to try and minimise three-putts. I walked off scratching my head last year when I had three-putts and four-putts but this year I had one three-putt both rounds this time so I was pretty happy with that.
“I changed my putting grip recently which made a big difference. I felt much more solid over the short ones and my driver behaved. Hit the driver straight, make a few putts, you’re probably going to end up with a good score.
“I hit a really good shot into the ninth. I just held a 6-iron off on the wind and it ended up about two feet away. And then on 17 I hit an 8-iron and it just held up perfectly to about a foot behind the hole.”
LEADERBOARD RUNDOWN
1 Nicholas Robb 73-71—144
2 Chris Taylor 73-72—145
T3 Adam Henwood 72-74—146
T3 Mark Boulton 71-75—146
NEXT UP
The PGA Legends Tour stays on the New South Wales South Coast for the inaugural Links Shell Cove Legends Pro-Am at Links Shell Cove on Monday.
Jak Carter’s hopes for a ‘good swing’ has delivered a new Subaru Crosstrek worth $50,000 thanks to a hole-in-one at the CKB WA PGA Championship in Kalgoorlie.
Steaming after walking off the 16th green with a double-bogey six, Carter was hoping for little more than a well-executed shot that found the green to get his third round at Kalgoorlie back on track.
Instead, his 8-iron from 178 metres just covered the front edge of the green and then rolled up and dropped straight into the hole.
A PGA of Australia Associate at The Stirling Golf Club south of Adelaide, Carter knew by the reaction of officials behind the green that the fourth hole-in-one of his career came with a significant reward.
“The only thing left was to make sure I was the first one to get it. But we had the reaction on 17 so it was like, It’s mine,” said Carter.
“It’s definitely mine, because the ladies went nuts behind the green. There it is, I’ve won it.”
It was an extraordinary response to a double-bogey that threatened to drop him out of the WA PGA top-10.
“I hit probably the worst wedge shot I’ve hit in a while,” Carter said of his approach shot into the previous hole.
“Had absolutely no idea what to do from there and made a quick six.
“I walked up to the next hole, the par-3 17th and was standing there thinking, Just swing this good here. Let’s just see what we can do.
“Stepped up and hit an 8-iron that I thought was short. I hit it and was like, It’s a bit short. Go, please go. Then I’ve seen it land and thought, This thing is on target.
“Rolled straight up, bang, straight in the hole. Then everyone’s just gone mental. It was absolutely crazy.”
His new Crosstrek courtesy of Subaru Australia is a significant step up from the previous prizes he has won for a hole-in-one.
“Probably a $10 voucher at home. Whatever they give out for the nearest-the-pin,” he said of his previous hole-in-one hauls.
“It’s a huge upgrade.”
Carter’s ace enabled him to shoot 2-under 70 in Saturday’s third round to be in a tie for 10th, 10 shots back of runaway leader Ben Eccles.
Four years after having victory stolen away by wet weather, Jack Wilson has triumphed in another rain-affected PSC Insurance Brokers Wagga Wagga Pro-Am at Wagga Wagga Country Club.
Players were called from the course in Round 1 due to heavy rain and were unable to complete their rounds until the morning of Round 2.
Holing out for eagle at the par-4 ninth was the highlight of Wilson’s opening round of 2-under 70, putting him two strokes back of Bryce Hohnen and Brad Kivimets.
Starting Round 2 from the second hole, Wilson picked up birdies at three, four and six but it was his birdies on 16 and 17 that would prove the difference in his round of 4-under 68 and two-stroke win.
Ten years after making history as the first trainee to win a Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia tour event at the 2013 Goldfields WA PGA Championship, Wilson is now a real estate agent based in Canberra.
He looked destined to win the 2019 Wagga Wagga Pro-Am until the entire second round had to be cancelled just a few holes from the finish and Round 1 leader Andrew Kelly was declared the winner.
In what would prove a prophetic text, he even sent a message to Kelly who is playing the WA PGA Championship in Kalgoorlie on his way from Canberra to Wagga.
“I sent Andrew Kelly a message when I was driving over here and said, ‘Geez I’m glad to see you’re in WA. It’s time this year for me to claim that one you stole from me’,” said Wilson.
“I love this place so much, it means a lot to me. They’ve supported me, they’ve taken me in as one of their own and to be able to give back, put a show on and to come back and support the sponsors who have put so much money into this event over the years, it’s a real privilege to get my name on that trophy.
“Of all the pro-ams I’ve played, there’s no event that’s done like this. There’s no event, I think, that the sponsors get around with the hospitality and how they look after the pros from start to finish.
“It is special to get a win here and I’m super proud to get my name on that cup.”
Now a restricted tournament member of the PGA, Wilson is limited to just three tournaments a year.
He made the most of a rare appearance on the adidas PGA Pro-Am Series with some clutch putts down the stretch under pressure.
“I hit some great shots today but the highlights were the two putts I made on my third-last hole and my second-last hole,” said Wilson.
“Eight-footers up the hill, middle of the cup for birdie and for par.
“They’re the ones that mean the most.
“The easiest thing is that I don’t have any expectations now. There’s not as much consequence and it makes it a little bit easier to put those numbers up.”
Wilson finished two strokes clear of Patrick Joseph (70) and Darren Bowman (70) at 4-under with former Tour winners Matt Stieger (71) and Ashley Hall (70) tied for fourth with Daniel Gill (70) and Brad Kivimets (73) at 3-under par.
Australian Deyen Lawson chipped in at the first playoff hole to claim his maiden victory on the Asian Development Tour.
Lawson’s best-of-the-day 65 saw him end the final round of the Second Indo Masters Golf Invitational at 13-under and tied with Thailand’s Charng-Tai Sudsom.
It would take just one extra hole for the Victorian to claim victory and move to the top of the ADT Order of Merit.
Lawson had just two pars in his outward nine, turning in 3-under thanks to five birdies against two bogeys that came in his opening three holes.
Three birdies in succession from the 11th hole brought him firmly into the mix, a final birdie at the par-4 17th completing a round of 7-under.
From there he had a short wait before confirmation that he and Sudsom would need extra holes to determine the winner.
Runner-up to fellow Aussie Aaron Wilkin at the BRG Open Golf Championship Da Nang last month, Lawson is now in the box seat to claim one of the 2024 Asian Tour cards given to the top-10 finishers on the Order of Merit at season’s end.
“It’s been close for the last few weeks and I’ve been playing solid, so it’s really good to get over the line,” said Lawson, the 2022 WA Open champion.
“It was good to chip in to win.
“You practice that shot all the time on the chipping green but you never really expect it to happen in a playoff so that was pretty fortunate.
“Obviously I want to finish in the top 10 to get an Asian Tour card but you never get sick of winning, no matter where it is, so I’m really excited.”
Wilkin is in fourth spot on the Order of Merit on the back of a tie for 13th, forging his way up the leaderboard after a 4-over 76 in Round 1.
His body clock is stuck somewhere between St Andrews and Kalgoorlie yet Haydn Barron used a 7-under 65 on Friday morning to join the hunt for the CKB WA PGA Championship in Kalgoorlie.
Barron was one of three players who flew into Kalgoorlie just hours before their Round 1 tee times on Thursday, the West Australian making birdie at two of his final three holes to open with even par 72.
After starting his round with a bogey for the second straight day on Friday, Barron played the next 17 holes in 8-under to sit in a tie for fourth at 7-under through two rounds.
He shot 65 in the final round to finish tied for 25th at the Alfred Dunhill Links in Scotland that went into a Monday finish and then embarked on a marathon journey home to make it to Kalgoorlie on time.
After his first leg from Edinburgh to Doha, he was “getting some weird looks” as he spent much of a three-hour layover stretching his long legs up a wall to reduce the swelling in his ankles.
The 27-year-old had just a few hours sleep at home in Perth on Wednesday night before flying out to Kalgoorlie on Thursday morning.
He endured another restless night’s sleep on Thursday and barely ate on Friday morning yet compiled a superb 7-under 65 to enter the hunt for a maiden Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia title.
“I woke up at midnight last night and I was ready to go,” said Barron. “I had to figure out how to get back to sleep.
“Body started to shut down last night. Started to get a few shakes and almost like I was going to be sick.
“I wasn’t over there for a long time, but your body gets used to when you’re eating. I struggled to even eat some toast this morning and then got to the third hole I was starving.
“I didn’t eat anything and by the time I got through nine I wasn’t even hungry.”
Before he left Scotland on Monday evening, Barron received a piece of advice from fellow West Australian Jason Scrivener, advice that would prove prescient on Thursday.
“Golf was easier today,” said Barron.
“I was walking up the fairways yesterday with my eyes closed after each tee shot, just to try and get a bit of relaxation time in.
“I was 2-over with a couple to go and birdied two of my last three to come into the house square.
“That was my goal. I spent a bit of time with Jason Scrivener last week and he said to me, ‘Just get in there and shoot square first round.’
“We can say that I just took his advice.”
As the afternoon groups began their second rounds, Victorian Ben Eccles had moved into the outright lead by equalling the course record of 9-under 63.
Eccles leads the way 13-under par, one clear of Queensland amateur Quinn Croker who shot a second consecutive 6-under 66. West Australian rookie Josh Greer (65) is the next best at 8-under.
Australian Cam Davis will be hoping to match form with good fortune when he seeks a second PGA TOUR title at the Shriners Children’s Open in Las Vegas.
Davis is one of four Aussies in the field at TPC Summerlin, Scottsdale-based PGA Professional Craig Hocknull earning the sixth PGA TOUR start of his career by winning the PGA of America’s Southwest section championship.
Davis is without a win since his victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit more than two years ago but possesses a formline that will have Vegas bookmakers salivating.
Outright third in his most recent start at the Fortinet Championship, Davis boasts four top-10 finishes in his past five starts and has made the cut each of the four times he has played TPC Summerlin.
His best finish is a tie for 27th two years ago but ahead of his return home for both the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship and ISPS HANDA Australian Open, will be hoping to bring a second PGA TOUR title in his carry-on.
As Davis chases a second PGA TOUR win, Scott Hend returns to Macau looking for a third victory at the SJM Macao Open.
Returning to the Asian Tour for the first time since 2017, Macau will welcome 16 Aussies and Kiwi pair Ben Campbell and Nick Voke to Macau Golf and Country Club.
Hend was victorious in both 2013 and 2015 and finished second in 2014 so will be able to draw upon plenty of good memories.
Joining Hend and co in Macau is Min Woo Lee, his sister Minjee Lee leading the Aussie charge at the LPGA Tour event in Shanghai.
The LPGA Buick Shanghai has not been played since Danielle Kang won for the second straight year in 2019 and Lee, Grace Kim and Karis Davidson will make up the Australian contingent this week.
Regarded as one of the toughest tests in all of professional golf, the Japan Open also tees off on Thursday morning where Adam Scott and amateur Jeffrey Guan join Japan Golf Tour regulars Brad Kennedy, Anthony Quayle and Adam Bland.
This week also marks the final individual event of the LIV Golf season, with our own Cameron Smith leading the points race heading into LIV Golf Jeddah.
A two-time winner this season, Smith leads from Americans Talor Gooch and Bryson DeChambeau and as aspirations to claim the individual crown in convincing fashion.
“That’s kind of the mindset every week is to come here to win, so I don’t think it’s really any different to any other week,” said Smith.
“For sure there’s a little bit more up for grabs this week. You have to acknowledge that and really get on your toes and just try and go out there and win the tournament. I think it’s the same as every other week. But more to play for.”
Round 1 tee times AEDT
PGA TOUR
Shriners Children’s Open
TPC Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada
12.50am* Robby Shelton, Austin Eckroat, Harrison Endycott
1.34am Lucas Herbert, Robert Streb, Andrew Landry
1.34am* Si Woo Kim, Cam Davis, Scott Stallings
7.30am* Michael Gligic, Peter Kuest, Craig Hocknull
Defending champion: Tom Kim
Past Aussie winners: Greg Norman (1986), Stuart Appleby (2003), Andre Stolz (2004), Rod Pampling (2016)
TV times: Live 12.30am-4am Friday on Fox Sports 505; Live 4am-11am Friday on Fox Sports 503; Live 12.30am-4am Saturday on Fox Sports 505; Live 4am-11am Saturday on Fox Sports 503; Live 8am-11am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503.
DP World Tour
acciona Open de España
Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
6.20pm Marcus Kinhult, Tapio Pulkkanen, Jason Scrivener
6.20pm* Adri Arnaus, Daniel Hillier (NZ), Tom McKibbin
Defending champion: Jon Rahm
Past Aussie winners: Rodger Davis (1990)
TV times: Live 11pm-4am Thursday, Friday; Live 10.30pm-3am Saturday; Live 10pm-3am Sunday on Fox Sports 503.
LPGA Tour
LPGA Buick Shanghai
Qizhong Garden Golf Club, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
12.21pm* Lauren Coughlin, Karis Davidson, Stephanie Meadow
12.54pm Sei Young Kim, Lydia Ko (NZ), Patty Tavatanakit
1.27pm* Moriya Jutanugarn, Grace Kim, Gabriella Then
1.38pm Minjee Lee, Ruoning Yin, Rose Zhang
Defending champion: Danielle Kang (2019)
Past Aussie winners: Nil
TV times: Live 2pm-7pm Thursday, Friday on Fox Sports 503; Live 2pm-7pm Saturday on Fox Sports 505; Live 2pm-7pm Sunday on Fox Sports 507 and Kayo Sports.
Asian Tour
SJM Macao Open
Macau Golf and Country Club, Macau
9.50am Hun Pui In (a), Douglas Klein, Jeremy Gandon
9.55am* Scott Hend, Min Woo Lee, Taichi Kho
10.10am Pawin Ingkhapradit, Chikkarangappa S, Andrew Dodt
10.15am* Zach Murray, Suradit Yongcharoenchai, Yikeun Chang
10.20am Jack Thompson, Chonlatit Chuenboonngam, Michael Maguire
10.25am* Micah Lauren Shin, Chapchai Nirat, Marcus Fraser
10.30am Mardan Mamat, Suteepat Prateeptienchai, Josh Younger
10.40am John Lyras, Dodge Kemmer, Matt Killen
11am Kartik Sharma, Nick Voke (NZ)
11.05am* Natipong Srithong, Ben Campbell (NZ), Tom Power-Horan
2.50pm* Rashid Khan, Ollie Roberts, Terry Pilkadaris
3pm* Turk Pettit, Terrence Ng, Kevin Yuan
3.05pm Todd Sinnott, Sarit Suwannarut, Ian Snyman
3.10pm* David Gleeson, SSP Chawrasia, Justin Quiban
3.15pm Sam Brazel, David Drysdale, Angelo Que
4pm* MJ Viljoen, Harrison Gilbert-Wong, K P Lin
Defending champion: Gaganjeet Bhullar (2017)
Past Aussie winners: Kane Webber (2006), David Gleeson (2008), Scott Hend (2013, 2015)
TV times: Live 4pm-8pm Thursday on Fox Sports 506; Live 4pm-8pm Friday on Fox Sports 507; 8.30pm-10.30pm Saturday on Fox Sports 503; 7.30pm-9.30pm Sunday on Fox Sports 503.
Japan Golf Tour
Japan Open Golf Championship
Ibaraki Country Club (West Cse)
9.55am Riku Uze (a), Adam Bland, Taichi Nabetani
10.20am* Lee Sang Hee, Akuryu Iwasaki, Brad Kennedy
1.25pm Kohei Okada (a), Anthony Quayle, Mikumu Horikawa
1.35pm Yasuka Migakawa, Adam Scott, Takumi Kanaya
1.45pm Jeffrey Guan (a), Riki Kawamoto, Takahiro Hatachi
Defending champion: Yasuka Hanamigawa (a)
Past Aussie winners: Craig Parry (1997), Paul Sheehan (2006)
LIV Golf
LIV Golf Jeddah
Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, Saudi Arabia
Australasians in the field: Cameron Smith, Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, Jed Morgan, Danny Lee (NZ)
Defending champion: Brooks Koepka
Past Aussie winners: Nil
TV times: Live 8pm-1am Friday, Saturday and Sunday on 7 Plus
Challenge Tour
Hainan Open
Danzhou Ancient Saltern Golf Club, Hainan Island, China
Australasians in the field: Kieran Muir (NZ)
Defending champion: Francesco Laporta (2019)
Past Aussie winners: Nil
PGA TOUR Champions
SAS Championship
Prestonwood CC, Cary, North Carolina
Australasians in the field: Steven Alker (NZ), Stuart Appleby, Richard Green, Mark Hensby, David McKenzie, Rod Pampling, John Senden
Defending champion: Fred Couples
Past Aussie winners: Nil
TV times: Live 5am-8am Saturday on Fox Sports 505; Live 5am-8am Sunday, Monday on Fox Sports 503.
Photo: Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images
