Globetrotting South Australian Max McCardle is enjoying Australian comforts at the Brisbane Golf Club for this week’s Isuzu Queensland Open 26 – 29 October.

McCardle, along with a handful of fellow Aussies and ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia regulars has been competing on the China Tour in between events on his home country calendar.

He enjoyed a solid start to the China season, finishing in the money through five straight tournaments, a tied 6th in the Fragrant Hills Beijing Open and tied 4th in the Binhai Forest Tianjin Open his best results.

Two straight missed cuts has steadied his momentum but a return to Australia could be just the thing the 32-year-old needs to refresh and capture a satisfying result.

“It was good to be competing, unfortunately I wasn’t playing as good as I would’ve liked, I missed a couple of cuts in a row so that’s obviously disappointing,” said McCardle, ahead of his practice round at the Brisbane Golf Club.

“From here I’m going up to Hong Kong next week for the Clearwater Bay Open, then home for a week then straight in to the NSW and Australian Open and Australian PGA Championship.”

McCardle said a busy travel schedule can take an effect on his game, something he counteracts by preparing week-to-week to the best of his ability.

“It does take a bit of a toll on your body but you’ve just got try and prepare the best you can from Monday to Thursday,” added McCardle.

“You’ve got to get as much rest as you can, but you’ve also got to get in the gym and get activate and hopefully be ready to go by Thursday.

“But it’s part of the job so you’ve just got to take it on the chin.”

Despite travelling to some of the most sought after destinations and golf courses around the world, McCardle said it’s far from a holiday.

“It’s all business when you’re over there, I don’t spend too much time wasting too much energy doing sightseeing or anything like that,” McCardle added.

“It’s just about getting over there, trying to do the best job you can and getting home.”

Now back in the familiar surrounds of Australia, he says there’s an opportunity to take advantage of some home grown comforts not available to him overseas, particularly in China.

“It’s very familiar in the Australian conditions and life off the course, I went to the pub last night and had a nice steak and some chips, a beer and a nice fresh salad.

“For me as I get to about week three or four away, you’re eating all the same foods, especially in China you’re eating a lot of rice, fried eggs in the morning on toast, dumplings and just the same stuff day in, day out and it’s a bit tiring.

“We’re lucky here we’ve got a lot of options and fresh produce; I definitely don’t take it for granted.”

Again, rest and relaxation is far from McCardle’s mind as he endevours to improve on a tied 5th finish in last year’s Isuzu Queensland Open at the same venue.

“Hopefully I can kickstart a good finish to the year this week, It’s going to play a lot different to last year,” added McCardle.

“I was actually up here with my coach, Tony Meyer, a couple of months ago and was able to come out and play a round here and it’s definitely a lot softer, the greens have come along even more so than last year.

“I’ve just got to keep my foot on the gas for the rest of this year, a bit of work to do on the Australian side of things and the Order of Merit here to try and keep a good card here for next year.

“I’ll be working pretty hard to play well.”

The Isuzu Queensland Open will be played from 26-29 October 2017 at The Brisbane Golf Club. The Championship is a part of an action-packed Australian summer of golf and forms part of the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia.

Entry is free all week to the public with a Family Fun Day taking place on Sunday 29 October. For more information, visit www.qldopen.com.au.