Inside Golf - September 2010

September 2010 www.insidegolf.com.au.....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

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The win brought a sigh of relief, like a cool southerly on a hot summer arvo — a change, hopefully, that’s for the better.

“I’m not expecting rounds to be 65 for the next two months or anything like that,” he says.

“What I’d like to really take from it is what I did well at the Greenbrier Classic and how I thought and what I felt from the experience. I know that’s what really created an opportunity for me on Sunday, and I know that will give me an opportunity with each tournament I now enter.” Appleby’s schedule has seen him play in 13 straight tournaments, an exhausting stretch that grew with the Bridgestone and the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits.

“It’s really changed my season,” Appleby said with a smile about the win at Greenbrier.

“It’s given some weight to the time you spend on the range getting frustrated with your swing – and there has been plenty of that. I’ll use this as a refresher on how to stay relaxed and get through. I’ve never done a stint like this. It’s never happened for me. But it’s all good stuff.” The record-tying PGA Tour round of 59 is behind Appleby now. He knows that he has to move ahead, yet the confidence is there — as well as the momentum — that more success lies ahead.

“It certainly changes things, you know,” says Appleby.

“I really want to be back to being the player that I was – that I am, I feel like I’ve always been. I guess I just changed my cloak now and then.” Breaking his winless streak was important for a number of reasons for Appleby, who over his eighteen years on tour has been a prolific supporter of Australian Tour events, making the trip back down-under to support our tour and take some needed ‘down-time’ from the game.

Appleby has never forgotten where he comes from and Aussie supporters love seeing him and enjoy watching him when he’s home. The friendship and bond between the two is clearly mutual. You also see him joking with the likes of Phil Mickelson on the range with that Aussie sense of humour that the Americans love. The Victorian is popular and liked by his peers both at home and in the US.

Appleby looks at ease with where his currently standing, as well as relieved to be back with some winning form. The recent events over the last month could be what re-ignites Appleby’s career, and it’s evident with his approach on the range and on the course.

“You know, I’ve certainly had some thinking time from my last victory to now,” he says.

“Now that my FedEx points are up higher, I can look to when I can book flights to Australia to have a rest. Because when you have uncertainty in this game, it’s very frustrating to plan things.” Appleby has rocketed back into the world top- 100 golf rankings, jumping 65 spots to be currently 94th in the world.

The four-year winless drought has been broken and Appleby is setting new goals; yet at 38 with a young family in tow, life is not getting any easier, both on and off the course.

“I would love to be a yearly holder of a trophy, for sure,” says Appleby.

“There are a couple hundred guys thinking
like that too, so it’s not easy. But four years, you
know, I should be getting older and wilier and
more experienced.”
In typical Aussie style Appleby is keeping his
recent achievements in perspective. That’s his
style and he’ll probably never change, even if
another magical “ 59” number is posted soon.

“I’ll be realistic,” he says.

“The 59 is behind me and it doesn’t happen
very often. I’ll just be getting back to shooting
more normal scores out there. Hopefully good
ones.”
It’s certainly 59 good reasons why he’s presently
smiling. And why not, Appleby deserves it.;

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