JACK NEWTON IS THE 13th golfer to be inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, after Doug Bachli, Bruce Crampton, Jim Ferrier, David Graham, Edwina Kennedy, Kel Nagle, Greg Norman, Jan Stephenson, Peter Thomson, Norman von Nida, Ivo Whitton and Leonora Wray.

It is an elite club. These men and women have earned this recognition through their remarkable playing achievements and, in some cases, because they served as trailblazers too. Newton is a little different. Yes, he was a golfer who did some exceptional things, but he’s in the Hall of Fame for reasons beyond how he swung a club.

For character, courage, persistence and resilience, his story is second to none.

Expectations were high when Newton turned professional back in 1969. Such was his all-round sporting prowess, there was a belief he would become a star, whichever game he played. But golf was his first love. Quickly, he was being backed by Slazenger and mentored by Norman von Nida.

The early results, however, were disappointing. Newton admitted in early 1972 that professional golf was “nowhere near as easy as I thought it would be”. His response was built on a mantra his grandfather had lived by: “If you’re not going to give something your best shot, don’t do it in the first place.” Yes, he liked a drink and a good time, but the ‘wowsers’ (as he called them) never saw the hours he was spending on the practice fairway. Bruce Devlin liked what he saw in his young compatriot, describing him simply as ‘a fighter’.

Every so often over the next decade Newton would produce something special. His first two overseas wins, the Dutch Open and the Benson & Hedges Golf Festival at York, came in consecutive weeks in 1972. He dominated the NSW Open in 1976, recorded 20 birdies and an eagle to win by 10 shots. His one victory in America was at the Buick Open in 1978. Most famous of all was his heroic effort at the 1975 British Open, when he wore short sleeves throughout at rain-soaked Carnoustie and lost by a lip in a playoff against Tom Watson. He was also second at the Masters in 1980, three shots behind Seve Ballesteros.

His greatest triumph came at the 1979 Australian Open at Metropolitan, built on arguably the finest bunker shot in Australian golf history. On the Sunday, Newton was locked in a thrilling four-way battle with Greg Norman, Bob Shearer and Graham Marsh, but found himself facing oblivion in a bunker at the back of the 16th green. There was no room for error … it was all downhill to the hole … at the 14th, he’d skinned a bunker shot clean across the green and made double-bogey. Now, he landed the ball exactly where he needed to and it rolled to within 10 centimetres of the cup. Two more pars and a three-putt by the Shark at the final hole, and Newton was champion.

“That’s one of the greatest shots I’ve ever seen,” quipped his playing partner Gary Player as they walked to the 17th tee. Newton was only the third local to win the Open in 18 years, after Peter Thomson in 1972 and David Graham in 1977.

Jack Newton in his prime.

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON a Sunday night in July 1983. Newton was cut down by a plane propeller and suffered innumerable internal injuries, and lost an arm and an eye. “Jack’s a great competitor and that’s the reason he’s still alive,” Bruce Devlin said. “The average person wouldn’t have come through that ordeal.”

On the following Thursday, the Newton family talked to reporters. “We’ve tried to be strong, but I think we’ve got our strength from Jack,” his father, Jack Snr, said softly. “He’s been so great, he’s saved us from cracking up.”

Jack’s wife Jackie spoke of his “tremendous spirit and bravery”, and revealed he would remain in intensive care for at least 10 days (he would actually stay in hospital for two months, with more surgery to follow). “He’s already thinking of plans to help young golfers get a start in the game,” she added. “Jack thinks a lot of young golfers are not getting enough backing and he is hoping to get involved in some way.”

This was four days after the accident. A new journey had begun. What he has done since 1983 — establish Jack Newton Junior Golf, which continues to promote golf and boost participation rates among young players; raise millions of dollars for diabetes research and junior golf via the Jack Newton Celebrity Classic; become a respected golf course designer, writer, public speaker and Australia’s best ever TV golf commentator — is remarkable. When Tom Watson, immediately after the 1975 British Open, said, ‘Jack Newton is going to turn into a true champion’, he couldn’t have known how right he would be.

Newton’s commentary career actually dates back to 1975, when he worked for Channel 9 at the NSW Open. He couldn’t play because he was recovering from minor surgery, but acquitted himself admirably. Peter Stone in The Age described him as an ‘instant success’.

In an interview with the Dallas Morning News in early 1985, Newton explained how he approached his new career: “I just feel like I can give the players better representation on TV, because I have experienced golf at a high standard as a player. I can give the public an insight on what’s going on inside the head of a player. I try to relate to a guy sitting around drinking beer and tell him what the players out on the course are trying to do.”

Over the next 20 years and more he never veered from this path, building a rapport with his audience few players-turned-commentators have matched, describing the game with humour, gusto and rare insight, no rancour and total honesty. As always, Jack Newton was giving it his best shot.

That’s why he is in the Hall of Fame. He truly is one of a kind.