profile story bruce young

The Postman Delivers Mark Hensby has fulfilled his ambition to make it on the toughest stage in the world. Bruce Young caught up with the New South Welshman, who says he’s looking forward to having an imapct on this year’s Australasian Tour.

iding his bike delivering from country New South Wales it I slept in the car but I also stayed mail to residents of wasn’t all that easy to make his mark in the clubhouse and other people RTamworth in country New in NSW amateur golf and so he helped.” South Wales, Australian golfer Mark looked ahead to the possibility of a On turning professional in 1995, Hensby would often think about life in professional golf. the first event Hensby won was the the possibility of playing the game In 1993 at the age of 22, Hensby 1996 Illinois Open, which he won professionally in the US. “It was left for the US and headed for by eight shots. From there he joined always my main goal to get to the Chicago where he had family the then Nike Tour in 1997 and in US and play as a professional there,” friends from Australia. He quickly 1998 won the Fort Smith Classic he says. established himself in amateur where he beat by two “While many thought the better golf circles in Illinois, winning the shots. Despite that win, he did not option was to go to Europe, I Illinois State Amateur in 1994. earn enough money that season to wanted to go to the most difficult “I played a lot of amateur events get to gain his card on the US PGA arena straight away. Obviously I on arriving in Illinois and really felt Tour. That would eventually come in knew delivering mail in Tamworth that my game was more suited to the 2001 after a brilliant Buy.com Tour was not what I was going to do US than anywhere else. I hit the ball season in 2000, when he finished forever. I always had the ambition, quite high and although the game second on the money list. In his very even earlier, at the age of 15 or 16, here has changed somewhat since first start as a card holder on the US that playing the game for a living then, it was more a case of target golf PGA Tour he finished 9th at the was what I wanted to do.” at that stage and I felt suited to it.” Tuscon Open but from that point Hensby had arrived in Tamworth Much has been made of Hensby on, 2001 was not good to him. from Melbourne at the age of sleeping in the back of his car at “I was thrown in at the deep eight with his family and after Cog Hill Golf Club at about that end a little that year and perhaps leaving school worked at several time, a story that has grown further my expectations were too high. I’ve jobs including washing dishes at legs as his status in the game has learned that you can’t place high night, working in the pro shop at grown. expectations on yourself but rather Tamworth Golf Club and working “It keeps getting overblown. I got you just have to go out there and do on the ground staff at golf courses stuck when the people I was living your best and see what happens. It in the area. By the time he was 15 with left to go back to Australia and wasn’t so much that I didn’t play well

ALL IMAGES: GETTY IMAGES he was playing off scratch but being there was the occasional night when that year but more that I really didn’t

84 GOLF MAGAZINE october 2005 www.sportzblitz.net www.sportzblitz.net october 2005 GOLF MAGAZINE 85 enjoy the experience all that much. and not worry about what anybody was my dream but honestly it didn’t British Open, because of wanting at the Australian Open. By then I of his achievements in 2004 he was The PGA Tour is a very different else thought and with that attitude really feel all that different from my to do the right thing and defend had made a commitment to play in now eligible to play in all four majors beast.” and the extra time for my game to wins on the Nationwide Tour and the title, I was a Korea. The thing is though, that I this year. The first of those was at He headed back to the secondary mature, things began to go well.” majors are really my main goal.” little short on preparation time at St was never offered an invite to play Augusta and as most will testify tour and played well in 2002, He had top-10 finishes at Pebble That win earned a start at the Andrews and it showed as although the Australian Open or other events playing Augusta and The Masters although an injury in the middle of Beach and Tuscon before finishing Open Championship at Royal I made a great start with 67, I had when I was having reasonable years for the first time can be a daunting that year meant he finished outside second to at the Bell Troon the next week but, to the 77 in round two, so it caught up on the Nationwide Tour and now experience. Not so Hensby. He had the top-15 on the money list, which South. Another top three finish soon surprise of some, Hensby turned with me. I would have been even because I had a good year and won not played all that well leading into would earn automatic graduation followed at the Western Open at down that opportunity. less prepared last year.” on the US PGA Tour there was the event but has his own views on to the US PGA Tour. He headed that same Cog Hill Golf Club near “I copped some criticism from Hensby completed the year almost an expectation of me to play. that. “The major championships are to the Tour School later in 2002 Chicago, a region and various quarters. The Golf Channel in 2004 having earned US$2.7 and missed his card by an agonising that obviously provided many fond over here gave me a hard time but, million. It’s fair to say that it one shot, but headed back to the memories of his early times in the as is often the case people were would have taken a lot of overtime renamed Nationwide Tour in 2003 US. making judgements without a full delivering mail in Tamworth to even and had great success winning once It would be the very next week understanding of the reasons for my contemplate that amount of money. The major championships are not only about how you are playing, a lot of and finishing second twice to regain though, at the John Deere Classic, decision. I didn’t have my passport At the end of 2004 he again his US PGA Tour card for 2004. also in Illinois, that would provide with me at the time and I could not came under scrutiny this time for it is mindset — Hensby With the two extra years behind him perhaps his biggest thrill in golf to have gotten there till the Wednesday not playing the Australian Open. between US PGA Tour campaigns, that point — although he kept it and on that basis it would have been Hensby admits it was a case of Hensby was determined to do things in perspective. He won that event a waste of time. Even today people misunderstanding rather than not differently this time. in a playoff over John. E. Morgan. still ask me if I wish I had gone and wanting to. “I decided to do things my way “Obviously to win on the PGA Tour I still say no. Even this year at the “I did not receive an invite and It should not work that way and the not only about how you are playing, had no contact from the AGU tournament organisers there would a lot of it is mindset. You need a lot Hensby has his sights [Australian Golf Union] despite be well advised to keep an eye on the of patience and in fact I had played set on the upcoming having won on the US PGA Tour, guys who are playing well on either well in practice the week before. I Australasian season although I subsequently found out tour over here.” worked out with Vijay [Singh] a lot that by being in the top-100 in the Hensby made a relatively slow at his house in Florida where has world I automatically had a start start to the 2005 season but because installed a green which runs at the

At Twin Creeks we’re putting the finishing touches to a new golf course destined to be known as Sydney’s best in the west. Designed by Graham Marsh, the Twin Creeks course is 18 holes of pure golfing pleasure, meandering over gently undulating former pasture land, traversing natural creeks, all shaded by woodland. The clubhouse, with its soaring eaves, rich timber finishes and lake views, holds the promise of many good times to be enjoyed in the company of friends. The associated Peppers Resort will include a luxury 40-room hotel, restaurant and bar while the country club boasts tennis courts Your place to play and swimming pool. The private course, centrepiece of the exclusive Twin Creeks residential estate, will be open for play late this year, and applications for foundation membership are now being taken. Membership inquiries call 02 9834 5647 or visit www.twincreeks.com.au

To be eligible for membership at Twin Creeks, applicants must hold a share in Twin Creeks Holdings (Aust) Limited. Prospective members wishing to purchase shares should not rely upon information in the advertisement but must make their investment decisions based upon the prospectus which was lodged with the Membership now available Australian Securities and Investment Commission and dated 26 May 2005. A copy of the prospectus may be obtained from the company upon request. Shares will only be issued upon receipt of an application form attached to the prospectus.

86 GOLF MAGAZINE october 2005 www.sportzblitz.net

TC AGM 29-08 speed of those at Augusta. Just being another brilliant debut, this time around Vijay leading into the event in the US Open when he finished IMPROVE YOUR GOLF and in a practice round with him at third behind . Augusta was a great help.” “My short game was in great GOLF MAGAZINE PRESENTS Hensby and Singh are good shape that week, which it needed friends and he also enjoys a good to be as I didn’t hit a lot of fairways friendship with Tiger Woods . but to be fair the fairways were Throughout the Masters and only 22 yards wide or so, so many Private at subsequent majors in 2005, of my misses were not all that bad. LESSONS as Hensby entered the spotlight Perhaps more than any other event

��

and was often interviewed by the that is one where I really feel if I �

���������� �������� � � � � ��������������������� media, he typically downplayed the had been playing only a little better

� � importance of the event to ensure he I could have won there. I don’t � � � � � � kept things in perspective. normally look back in hindsight but Right: Hensby takes “The majors are important, what it did show to me was that I a relaxed appoach obviously, but I try to treat them have what it takes to one day win a into every tourma- as just another event and I think major.” nent. that policy works. I downplay all Hensby headed to St Andrews Below: Hensby events and keep things in their for yet another major debut, in with his trophy for right perspective. I made sure I was fact his first event in Europe and ������� � winning the recent prepared for them also.” Hensby opened with 67 where he trailed ���� ������������������������������������������������������������ �� �� ���� � Scandanavian finished fifth at Augusta, in a only Tiger Woods. He eventually ������������� ������������� Masters. ����������������� stunning debut. finished 15th at the Open Just two months later at Championship, which all things It would be the former as he Pinehurst he would make yet considered was very good. outlasted Stenson in the playoff. ������������������ After Hensby now has a big finish to ������������ Hensby headed for Hockenheim in the year in store. His exploits in � � � � � ������������� �������������� Germany where he enjoyed one of 2005 have assured him of a place � � � � ������������� his passions at the German Grand on the International Team for � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Prix. the and his major � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � “I’m really into Formula One and championship performances have � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � it was probably one of the best weeks earned him a start at the HSBC I have had in my life.” World Match Play Championship at From there and in a relaxed Wentworth. ����������������������� ��������� ������������� and refreshed state of mind, it Importantly however, is that was to yet another great week in Mark Hensby will get to play in ����������� Sweden where Hensby would play front of his home crowds for the in his very first European Tour first time since he’s taken his game

event outside of the majors, the to level, when he plays both the ������������������������ . It was a Australian Open and the Australian week where he would team for the PGA in the next couple of months. ���������������� first time with Fanny Sunneson “I’m looking forward to getting who had previously caddied for down and playing there and I am ���� �������������������

Nick Faldo. keen to do well. I will be coming � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �

� ������������������� “It was a treat to have her on down a little early to prepare myself � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � the bag,” Hensby says . “I don’t as I don’t want to be just going think I’ve met a more professional through the motions.” person in my life and we will team The cloud of mystery that has Over 50 Personal Tips up again at the World Match Play covered Mark Hensby is about to be Championship at Wentworth. She lifted for Australian golf fans. This ONE ON ONE INSTRUCTION FROM: cracked me up as we walked back to very much self-made man and golfer, PLUS SINGH, BADDELEY, SCOTT, SORENSTAM the first playoff hole against Henrik who possesses a strong belief in his Stenson there in Sweden when she own way of doing things, has taught said that I was either going to make us all that the road less travelled one Swede very happy or a lot of in professional golf can also be a Swedes very unhappy.” successful one. ‰ OUT NOW To order call 03 9574 8999 or visit www.sportzblitz.net 88 GOLF MAGAZINE october 2005 www.sportzblitz.net