Date: December 02, 2008
Author: Rob Forsaith, Sportal

Ogilvy gunning for breakthrough win

Geoff Ogilvy has chalked up some impressive results abroad, but a major tournament victory in his homeland has eluded the world No.14, something Ogilvy&aposs looking to amend when he tees off at this week&aposs Australian PGA Championship in Coolum. Ogilvy claimed a U.S. Open title in 2006 and earlier this year snapped Tiger Woods&apos six-tournament winning streak at the World Golf Championships – CA Championship, before momentarily breaking into the top five in the world rankings. When his winless record in Australia was raised on Tuesday, Ogilvy was a man of few words. “It&aposll happen one day, hopefully,” Ogilvy quipped. The highest ranked golfer in Australia, Ogilvy has had a quiet preparation for the Australian PGA, but his form-line has been an impressive one. After having a lengthy break from the game, Ogilvy was in contention at the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai held in early November. His two-under par 70 in the final round saw him finish one shot off the pace behind world No.2 Sergio Garcia and Oliver Wilson. “I played well there, I am generally not wonderful after having six or seven weeks off but I played pretty well, I was in it for most of the week right up to the last couple of holes,” Ogilvy said. “I missed the play-off by a shot, but I was pretty happy with that after eight weeks off.” The 31-year-old has since enjoyed a few weeks off back home, but he has kept in good touch while having a &aposhit and giggle&apos with some friends in Melbourne. “I did have a pretty good day at Woodlands, I had lots of birdies, a hole in one, had another eagle on a par five, I never really added up the score but it was a pretty good one.” “Shanghai was good and I&aposve played a few games at home and they were pretty decent.” Ogilvy was hopeful he could claim a maiden PGA win in his first tournament on Australian soil this season. “Golf is a weird game, golf comes and goes, so you never really know what&aposs going to go on, but there have been all the signs out there that (my) golf is pretty good at the moment.” “I&aposve had a couple of weeks off and am ready to play a couple here, it&aposll be good.” “I played this morning and I played a few holes on the weekend (in Coolum), it&aposs nice, the greens aren&apost as fast as they have been before but it&aposs perfect, the bunkers are good, the greens are good, it&aposs nice to play in warm weather and sunshine.” A second place finish in 2001 at Royal Queensland remains Ogilvy&aposs best Australian PGA result. While his land of birth may not have been kind to Ogilvy in a golfing sense, the globetrotting father of two is looking forward to enjoying time with his family, who calls his children &aposthe best psychologists you can take on tour&apos. “I know a lot of guys are like this (on tour), you couldn&apost leave the golf at the golf course, you&aposd get back to your room and have nothing to do but worry about your golf and kick stuff around the room because your golf&aposs no good.” “When you&aposve got your family and your kids back, you can be as angry and as headless as you can be.” “But as soon as you get into the room and your kids run to you and jump up to your arms, it&aposs like you can&apost even remember golf, which is a good thing.” Ogilvy was looking forward to a lighter schedule and more time at home next year where his ranking will ensure he can pick and choose which tournaments he wishes to play in. “It&aposs nice to be able to do that, it gets pretty relentless when you&aposre struggling and you&aposre grinding, playing 35 tournaments a year, people don&apost realise how hard that is.” “That&aposs 35 airplanes minimum you&aposre in a suitcase all year and it&aposs annoying, there&aposs no regularity.”