/> Tom Bond in action at the 2013 Emirates Australian Open at Royal Sydney
2010 SA State Captain and Grange member, Tom Bond, is nearing two years as a professional golfer.
Turning pro at the end of 2012 after claiming the SA stroke averages, Bond has adjusted relatively well to life as a tour player.
Fulfilling a lifelong dream to play in his first Australian Open last year, second time around, Bond is better prepared and not too overawed by the occasion.
“I don’t really get too nervy or anything like that, I really just try and enjoy the big events. It’s a completely different stage to the smaller events, always playing on a great golf course with great facilities, its a really enjoyable week” Bond said
“Definitely the more of them you play, the less you actually battle the nerves and that sort of stuff. Just go out there and try and enjoy yourself and hope you have a good score.”
Bond’s best result to date has been a 2nd place finish in the Queensland Open in August, carding rounds of 66-73-68-75 (5-under). “I had a good week I guess, that’s definitely my best result so far”. Bond said.
Open week has come at a good time for Bond who has posted some solid results the past few weeks, first finishing 19th at the WA PGA Championship 71-73-71-71 (2-under) and then earning his biggest pay cheque at the BetEasy Masters finishing in a tie for 17th carding rounds of 70-72-72-71 (3-under).
“I was pretty happy with The Masters, it could have been a bit better if a few putts had dropped.”
“I have been playing alright lately, I expect to play pretty well down here, it suits me reasonable well, so hopefully I have a good week.
“I don’t have any high expectations as such, just try and approach every week the same, set a few goals, where to hit certain shots to and don’t worry about the score too much and if hit it where I want to, the score should take care of itself and I should end up signing for a good one.”
At the 2013 Australian Open, Bond played exceptionally well in the opening few rounds with scores of 69-73-70 but a closing 78 pushed him out to 2-over and tied for 51st.
Bond did however finish the tournament with the best putting average of all players.
“I putted really well last year, but at the same time the stats don’t count your putts from a foot off the green. I seemed last year to have lot of putts from a foot off the green where I was still inside 20 foot of the hole.”
“It’s slightly misleading, but I definitely did have a good week with the putter, because I wasn’t hitting it particularly well. If I can do that again this week, I would definitely be in a good position cause ‘touch wood’ I’m hitting it better than I did last year.”
The break through win by fellow Grange member and mate Nick Cullen at last week’s Australian Masters has also reinvigorated Bond.
“I’m really happy for him. It’s great, especially knowing I have played a lot of golf with Nick over the years and knowing I’ve knocked him off on occasions, makes you feel a bit more confident about your game and moving to the next level.
“Also being with him the last few years and seeing what he has done to improve, it definitely gives you a lot of hope and shows you that it is possible.”
“It’s great to see him win, he’s had a pretty average year by his standards and just needed something to go right to turn his year around and obviously that was something pretty good to go right for him”.
Currently ranked 29th on the PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit (he was 63rd at the same time last year), Bond has commenced working with SA PGA Teaching Professional of the year Daniel Blackwell from Royal Adelaide.
The two spend some time together at the Masters and the new partnership appears to be going well. Supporting Bond in Sydney will be caddy and mate Nick Deutrom who Bond says "has a good record on the bag".
Hailing from the biggest club in South Australia, The Grange, there is no doubt that its 1,500 plus members will be right behind Bond this week as he embarks on a second Open pursuit and to steal some limelight from fellow club members Cullen and Asian Pacific Champion, Antonio Murdaca.
For all news including live scoring throughout The Emirates Australian Open – click here for the Official website
Click here for the PGA of Australia website for Tom Bond bio and past playing statistics.
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