See All Sites

Baddeley Aims To Catch Gary Player

Nov 9, 2011 | Filed Under: General News   Share

Aaron Baddeley wants to win his third Australian Open this week, and that’s just the start. Baddeley, coming off a stellar year on the PGA Tour, still has his sights on Gary Player’s record of seven Open titles.

“I want to try to win my third Australian Open,” Baddeley said yesterday.

“It’s going to be a great field, great event, the best in a long time here. It will be a good one to win and a great lead-in for next week (and the Presidents Cup).

“Obviously the goal is to try to catch Gary Player. He has the most. A third will be another step in the right direction.”

Player won his seven Australian Opens over a 16-year period from 1958 to 1974. Jack Nicklaus is a six-time Australian Open champion while Ivo Whitton, from the early part of the 20th century, and Greg Norman have five.

At the age of 30, Baddeley has two to his name the first as an amateur in 1999 and the second as a professional the next year.

It’s been lean pickings since, although Baddeley returns to The Lakes in Sydney this year with his game in solid shape. He won his third event on the US PGA Tour in February and secured a place on the Presidents Cup team with another impressive outing at the Tour Championship, where he finished in a share of third.

“I love coming home and playing so I have plenty of Australian Opens left in me,” he said.

“I just have to try to win a few.”

Baddeley will start the Open on the fourth line of betting at $16 but he says his game is in good nick and you get the feeling his selection on Norman’s International team for the Presidents Cup has been a significant fillip.

Norman has already outlined plans to bring together the international players at the Open this week to discuss what lies ahead at Royal Melbourne.

“I spoke to him yesterday on the phone,” Baddeley said.

“He sent an email asking the team to give him a call. I am looking forward to it next week. State series is one of my favourite memories as an amateur growing up with that team environment.

“To do it as a pro will be pretty special.”

Meanwhile, James Nitties has spoken about his disappointment at missing out on his PGA Tour card by the slimmest of margins and his plans to regain it via qualifying school.

Nitties finished 26th on the Nationwide Tour money list the top 25 gain their PGA Tour playing rights for next year. A withdrawal at the penultimate event he suffered an upset stomach after what he suspects was a case of food poisoning and slept through his alarm proved pivotal.

“It’s pretty tough to take,” Nitties said. “I played my heart out.”

He will now miss the Australian PGA as he returns to the US to play the final stage of PGA Tour qualifying school.

Article courtesy of Brent Read, The Australian, November 09, 2011

« Back