Newcastle’s Blake Windred has vowed to bring the same intensity he will take to his debut season on the DP World Tour to this week’s defence of his Victorian PGA Championship crown at Moonah Links.
Windred’s one-stroke win on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula 11 months ago served as the catalyst to a second-place finish on the ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit, a result that came with the added bonus of a ticket to the DP World Tour in 2023.
That season commences in two weeks’ time at the Fortinet Australian PGA Championship at Royal Queensland Golf Club in Brisbane but Windred remains very much focused on the here and now.
The field this week boasts first-time winners David Micheluzzi (WA PGA) and Deyen Lawson (WA Open), three-time DP World Tour winner Marcus Fraser, five-time Korn Ferry Tour winner Mathew Goggin and Australasian Tour winners such as Matthew Griffin and Zach Murray and promising American talents Devon Bling and Jake Hennessy.
It represents the start of a five-week block of tournaments highlighted by the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open and for Windred, the perfect opportunity to employ a mindset designed to bring out his best.
“I want to play just as good here as I do at the Australian Open and the Australian PGA,” said Windred.
“To be honest, I was viewing this as a good lead-in to the big events but then I thought, This is a big event. That’s the mindset I want to adopt for every single event from now on.
“What I have learnt this year is that you need to approach all of the tournaments in the exact same way because that’s what the best players in the world would do.
“It’s a mentality of having the foot on the throat now. Taking no prisoners and really trying to build a career for myself.
“I understand that there is going to be a lot more tough situations in the future but I genuinely believe in everything I’m doing. I believe in my team and I think we’re going to be in for a nice couple of years.
“I’m very excited.”
The Victorian PGA Championship is played across both the Legends and Open courses at Peppers Moonah Links Resort, Round 1 commencing on Thursday morning.
As is the case with all ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia events this season, the final two rounds will be broadcast live on Fox Sports and Kayo on Saturday and Sunday.
