You know what? I didn’t like golf at first. It took me a good two years to really get into it and truly appreciate everything it has to offer an individual, both on and off the course. Winning definitely isn’t everything but, for me, it makes playing golf more enjoyable in the competitive ranks. If nothing else, it proves that all the time and practice I put into my game is really worth it.
Dad was the only golfer in the family. I was introduced to the game by him but it wasn’t an immediate addiction for me. Travelling all the time, meeting random people… I found the golf industry was a different part of life that I needed to adjust to. Fast-forward to now, and how things have changed. I love how golf and its lessons are applicable to everyday life. I love learning which areas I can improve myself and what I need to work on to not only be a better golfer, but a better person.
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My first taste of serious golf came when I started playing in Jack Newton Junior Golf tournaments. Then, as I transitioned into high school, I started playing more school-age events before I gradually worked my way into state amateur tournaments across the country.
I think every golfer can recall the moment. That moment for me came in 2017 when I won the Australian Junior Championship.That was when I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the game. That was when it suddenly dawned on me that, Wow, I might be able to make a living out of this. Up until then I hadn’t really experienced what winning was all about… I mean really winning, finishing on top of the leaderboard in a big-time event. I had won age-group events and things like that but they didn’t have the same impact on my career as winning a national title did. I knew it was a big deal. I also knew it was time to put my head down and get to work with my coach, Golf NSW’s high performance manager Khan Pullen. It was time to take this realisation further.
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“Australian Amateur champion” has a pretty cool ring to it. I must confess, I was really looking forward to this year’s Aussie Amateur at Kooyonga Golf Club after they changed the format to full strokeplay. I’ve always been a lot stronger in strokeplay than matchplay. I guess you could say I had my eyes on the prize when they announced that move. It was nice to be able to lift the trophy on a course that I have great love for. It was a great stepping stone and confidence booster for me.
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I guess the results I’m starting to produce are what I should have produced in 2020, if not for the coronavirus. I’m happy that I’ve been finally able to take off from where I felt I left things before COVID-19 interrupted everything. Now I’m just excited to see what else I can achieve for the remainder of the season.
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Playing golf for a living during a pandemic hasn’t been ideal. In the beginning it was pretty hard to accept because, as a player, you couldn’t do anything. Tournaments were being cancelled. Facilities were being closed, making practising next to impossible. It got to a point where I actually questioned myself and thought, What am I practising for? It took a while to get the mind going again but I’m glad I did. A good headspace was vital to keep on top of my game during those lockdown periods because it allowed me to jump out of the blocks and play some of the best golf of my life in 2021.
The next big event on my schedule is the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. I’ve had a whole year to let it sink in after last year’s tournament was cancelled. I remember literally screaming in excitement when the first invitation arrived and I told my parents. I’d be lying if I said getting a second chance to play Augusta National hasn’t been on my mind a bit lately. I haven’t even had a chance to play it on a computer game like most kids probably have. All I’ve seen of the place are Masters highlights. A lot of people tell me the course is more undulated and contoured than it looks on TV. My friend, Julienne Soo, who played in the event in 2019, said it’s such an amazing experience and to make sure I take heaps of photos.
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I’m talking to Golf Australia to get assistance on my paperwork and ticking all the boxes for travelling to Augusta. It’s been a little hectic but I want to make sure everything is in order when it’s time to jump on a plane for Georgia. Trust me, I don’t want to miss this for a second time!
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When you start winning major amateur events, inevitably the questions about when you are going to turn pro start coming. For me, I feel like I’m ready to take that leap at the back end of this year. My goal is to get a card on the LPGA Tour via qualifying school in August, but I’ll be making sure I give myself every chance of getting other playing opportunities where I can.
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A lot of my success comes down to Karrie Webb. Yes, girls my age and older took inspiration from her halcyon days on tour, but it’s the fact she has been so giving of her time to people like me that’s really paved the way for Australia’s next generation to perform. To support us financially through her scholarship program is such a huge deal. I don’t think people understand just how expensive it is to qualify for and play in events around the world as an amateur golfer. It takes a while for golfers, female golfers particularly, to break even. So, for Karrie to even do that is so amazing. It has positively impacted our lives and I’m forever grateful to her. She’s always texting me to congratulate me on tournament victories and to give me support along the way. It’s pretty cool having a hall-of-famer texting you like that. She will always be a big deal in my life.
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Where do I hope to be in 10 years’ time? Well, hopefully I’m at the top of the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and have a few Major championship victories to my name. Oh, and plenty of cash in my bank account [laughs]. I remember reading a story about Jason Day and how he took a screenshot of his bank account after the cheque for his first big victory on the PGA Tour had cleared. Hopefully that can be me some day.
