Adam Scott’s former short-game coach and brain tumour survivor hoping to secure shot at Australian PGA Championship

ADAM Scott’s former short-game coach and a brain tumour survivor are among the Gold Coast connections hoping to secure their shot at the Australian PGA Championship title.

ADAM Scott’s former short-game coach and a brain tumour survivor are among the Gold Coast connections hoping to secure their shot at the Australian PGA Championship title.

Sanctuary Cove Golf Club professional Matthew Ballard was the man who fine tuned Scott’s work around the green leading into last year’s PGA Championship and now he wants to replace him in the field.

Ballard, 41, will play in the PGA Championship qualifier at either Sanctuary Cove or Wynnum Golf Club on Monday while former Palm Meadows, Parkwood and Gold Coast Country Club pro Christopher McCourt, 47, is also seeking a second straight entry into the tournament.

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McCourt missed the cut after finishing at nine-over par after the second round at Royal Pines last year.

Ballard was a tour player for 14 years before he opted to become a coach full-time at the end of 2015.

The Burleigh resident was among the final groups of the 2013 event and if he secures one of three entries to the PGA Championship up for grabs, he will go up against top clients Adam Bland and Sam Brazel.

Golf coach Matthew Ballard and player Michael Sim.

“It’s one round of golf with a chance to play the PGA so I’d silly not to try,” Ballard said.

“I still know how to play a bit of golf.

“It would be nice to play it in my backyard but I’m lucky I wear two hats now. I’m glad it’s not my complete livelihood anymore and I’m not relying on trying to qualify.

“It takes the pressure off because it’s cut throat for most of the guys.”

McCourt, who currently works out of Keperra Golf Club north of Brisbane, had a brain aneurysm in 2014 and was given a 50-50 chance of surviving by doctors.

McCourt had given up golf 12 years before his aneurysm in a career that included seven Australian PGA Championship showings.

Christopher McCourt will try to make the Australian PGA Championship field for a second straight year. Photo credit: PGA of Australia.

The closest he came to the title was making the cut for the final day.

McCourt gets MRI scans every six months to ensure the benign tumour doesn’t change and said he was ready to return to the top level again.

“It would be good to make it and while you want to get in, you need to be playing well too,” McCourt said.

“I’ll be a lot better prepared this time after playing some golf in the lead up.”

Both Ballard and McCourt played at the PGA Professionals Championship on Hamilton Island this week where a spot for the PGA Championship was up for grabs.

McCourt finished tied 14th at 12-over par while Ballard was tied 16th at 14-over par.