Golf: Perks keen to tackle challenging Open course

SYDNEY - New Zealander Craig Perks is looking forward to tackling the testing layout for this week's Australian Open, describing the course as one "where par actually means something."

With another first-time winner on the United States PGA Tour, Philip Tataurangi, Perks will head a 10-strong New Zealand challenge at the $A1.5 million ($1.7 million) event beginning in Melbourne today.

Others in the field for a tournament that no New Zealander has won in its 98-year history include veteran Greg Turner and new US PGA Tour cardholder Steven Alker.

Perks described the par-70 course at the Victoria Golf Club as "incredibly good."

"You don't have to go out and shoot 64 every round," he said. "It's not a putting contest, it's more of a striker's course. You have to get position on your tee shot, be able to curve your irons either way and just be smart."

Perks rated the greens as probably the fastest he had come across.

"It's a great test, but they're fair, because they give you plenty of options," he said.

"I think it's how golf courses should play. They don't do this much in the States, where there's too much watering."

The Australian Open could be Perks' only appearance on the Australasian Tour this summer.

He is due to pair up with Michael Campbell to represent New Zealand in the World Cup in Mexico next month.

However, with the US PGA Tour resuming in January, he was still undecided about whether to play in the New Zealand Open in Auckland from January 16 to 19.

"I would love to be a champion of my home country's event," he said. "But the PGA Tour is still where I make my living."

Perks, 35, who hails from Palmerston North and now lives in Louisiana, joined the American tour in 2000 and recorded his maiden victory by taking out the so-called "fifth major," The Players' Championship, in March.

His pay cheque of US$1.08 million ($2.2 million) helped him to a year-end placing of 34th on the tour's money list.

But after making the cut in each of his first eight events of the year up to and including The Players' Championship, he then missed out 11 times in his remaining 20 tournaments of the tour.

Perks blamed his inconsistency on the distractions that followed his victory.

"Before, I used to kind of float under the radar screen, get on with my work and then leave," he said.

"But my world was turned upside down with 100 per cent demand on my time, and I was always a person who tried to honour commitments and said yes to a lot of people.

"I think I've become a more rounded person and I'll be better able to handle it when it happens again."

Perks said he was pleased with his preparations for the Australian Open, although his swing was undergoing a major overhaul.

In August, he decided to make changes to try to be more consistent.

"It seemed like I was playing well only three to four weeks of the year," he said.

"I had a lot of things going on in my swing and I've just tried to simplify it."

The process was a tough one and was nowhere near complete.

But he was confident the result would be a positive one.

- NZPA