Coast golfer: ‘It will set me up for years’

A win at the PGA on the Gold Coast could be career-defining for one golfer.

A WIN at the Australian PGA Championship could be career-defining for Daniel Nisbet as he looks to add to an already successful year by winning the PGA Tour of Australasia order of merit.

Nisbet, who trains under Richard Woodhouse at KDV Sport in Carrara, sits second on the order of merit behind Jake McLeod, who will also play in the tournament this week, after tallying $225,982 in earnings from 11 events this year.

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A win at the Australian PGA Championsip would give Nisbet a two-year exemption on the European Tour he has never featured in while also sealing top spot in the order of merit and $240,000 in prizemoney.

“It would be a great boost and set me up for the next few years,” Nisbet said.

“Getting on to the European Tour is something you always say you want to happen but when it gets closer to becoming a reality it really sets in.

Daniel Nisbet.

“There is still a lot of work to do and I’m not saying it’s in there yet but we are heading towards it.

If it happens then great but if it doesn’t then I’m in a position where I can try again next year because I’m playing well.

SCOTT PLAYS MENTOR

“I just wanted to be in contention the week of the PGA and the event should help my cause because there are a lot of international players in the field.

“I do like the (Royal Pines) course on the Gold Coast. I find it quite challenging but rewarding to good golf.

“I played it pretty well the last few years and I think I can give it a nudge this year.”

The 28-year-old won the New Zealand Open in March and the MMC NT PGA Championship in August to set up his charge for the OOM title.

Nisbet said changing the way he prepared for events alongside wife and strength and conditioning coach Ashley Nisbet was the stimulus behind his successful 2018 campaign.

“The preparation for events has been a lot better along with the training and programming each week,” Nisbet said.

“It’s been more specific to certain weeks and climates. We have done more periodised training and it’s not necessarily all about strength.

“It’s about keeping a level balance of fitness over certain weeks and staying in a stable physical and mental place.”