MIKE Harwood says successful the Australian PGA, famously stopping Greg Norman’s successful run of 9 occasions, was an enormous a part of his profession.
“It all the time can be, as I’m certain will probably be the identical for the one that wins (the 2025 BMW PGA Championship at Royal Queensland) later this month,” Harwood mentioned.
“It’ll play a giant position in establishing somebody’s profession and maybe launch them onto the worldwide stage.
“However I don’t assume our younger guys in Australia are dedicated sufficient to getting onto abroad excursions. I believe they’ve given up and simply don’t have the $20,000 to go abroad and get on the US Tour.
“That’s the place Australian sponsors have gotten it mistaken. They solely wish to know you after getting made it and while you’re enjoying properly. Within the US, sponsors are queuing as much as assist younger gamers as they arrive out of school.
“Golf is a large enough curler coaster with out having monetary uncertainty to deal with as properly,” Harwood added.
A former Australian PGA champion, Mike Harwood was additionally runner-up to Ian Baker Finch on the Open Championship in 1991.
Harwood, now 67, is happy in regards to the recreation on the world stage. He was immersed within the Ryder Cup and loves Rory McIlroy. He doesn’t benefit from the crowds, and he received’t be at Royal Melbourne however can be riveted to the tv to observe Rory on the Australian Open.
“I’ll see extra on TV I reckon. The crowds can be that large you’ll want a milk crate to face on the catch a glimpse of Rory.
“He completely has the wow issue like Norman. His ball putting is exclusive.
“Have a look at when he’s enjoying in America, they arrive from in all places due to the expertise he’s received like Greg and Seve Ballesteros. The followers know Rory is one thing particular they usually wish to watch him,” Harwood mentioned.
The sport has come a great distance, he says, from the day he pocketed $36,000 for successful the Australian PGA Championship at Citadel Hill in 1986.
“I used to be enjoying fairly properly. However on the 54th gap on Saturday, I missed an 18-inch uphill putt.”
He walked off the course and mentioned to his late mother and father, Geoff and Audrey, “I’m completely exhausted.”
On the way in which house to his of us’ place at Currajong they stopped on the Richmond Lodge.
“The pub was as tough as guts, however I had 10 beers, went house and slept like a child. I got here out the subsequent day and shot 64.”
“I used to be all the time a grinder,” Harwood says, hastening so as to add he was by no means within the Shark’s class.
He says the identical of his runner-up end to his nice buddy Ian Baker-Finch at Royal Birkdale in The Open in 1991.
“Finchy shot 29 on the entrance 9 on the ultimate day. That put him about six in entrance. I used to be by no means going to catch him though I did get inside one on the seventeenth gap.”
His different large profession victory was the British PGA at Wentworth in 1990 holding out reigning US Masters champion Nick Faldo.
Harwood made residing from the sport in Europe and performed a few dozen British Opens however solely a handful of US Opens and PGAs.
“I used to be happy with my document within the Open, solely lacking just a few cuts, however majors have been so bloody onerous to get into.”
Mike Harwood took down Greg Norman to win the Australian PGA Championship in 1986.
Within the twilight of his profession Harwood, together with his spouse Donna as caddy, performed seniors in Europe “till Covid killed that off.”
“But it surely was a good way to have a world tour with Donna. You might be paying your manner and seeing the world from a distinct perspective. The primary time I used to be there it was all golf, golf, golf. It was nice to have the ability to do it collectively.”
Today, he performs frequently at Southern Golf Membership the place he’s serving to to handle the membership’s pennant groups.
He additionally “nonetheless knocks it round in just a few pro-ams,” though he’s sidelined after breaking his ankle after innocuously tripping on a footpath going for a leisurely stroll after a pro-am spherical in Kiama.
“I can’t complain although,” he says. “Golf and life have been very, excellent to me.”
The put up BMW PGA Championship: The person who speared a ‘Shark’ to win the Australian PGA first appeared on Inside Golf. Australia’s Most-Learn Golf Journal as named by Australian Golfers – FREE.
