Sim fit and ready for Moonah

Australasian PGA Tour | 2009 Moonah Classic | Preview | 25 Feb 2009

Current Australasian Tour Order of Merit leader Michael Sim is injury free and credits a new mental approach as the key to claiming another Nationwide Tour title when he tees off today at the Moonah Classic at Moonah Links.

The 24 year old winner of the 2006 Palmetto Pride Classic heads into the event on the back of a top ten finish at the prestigious Johnnie Walker Classic last week where he finished just three shots behind winner Danny Lee.

The result follows a tie for eleventh at last year’s Sportsbet Australian Masters where the West Australian headed into the final round as co-leader with Robert Allenby. Asked about the aspect of his game that has helped regain the form he struggled with after six months sidelined by a chronic back injury and Sim is adamant.

“My mental game, definitely. I struggled at the Masters and I know it’s an issue for me in the final round, well, not just the final round but it’s an issue, just trying to block out the negatives. I’ve been working with someone for the last couple of months and it’s starting to come around and I’m really starting to feel confident on the golf course now.”

Sim, a former number one world ranked amateur was sidelined by a back injury that came to prominence when he was forced to withdraw from the 2006 Australian Open. He was forced to miss six months of the 2007 US PGA Tour season and had a challenging 2008 after being granted a Major Medical Exemption. He managed six cuts in only seven starts on the PGA TOUR in 2008, with a career-best T7 coming at the Frys.com Open in October.

After a roller coaster ride from the joys of victory to injury and rehabilitation Sim’s form since last October shows all signs that things are back on track.

“When I lost the play off to Paul Sheehan at the Jacob’s Creek Open in 2006 I was in top form. I won later that year and then I got hurt so it has probably been about 18 months since I have got over my injury and I feel like my game is probably better now than it was then,” said Sim.

Last week he surged to the top of the leaderboard in the third round of the tri-sanctioned Johnnie Walker Classic in Perth. After sinking five birdies in 10 holes he was a major contender heading into the final day. He eventually finished in a tie for seventh alongside fellow Aussie Adam Blyth, just three shots behind winner Danny Lee and heads into this week’s event on the back of a sizzling run of form.

“I played really well last week,” said the 24 year old West Australian.

“I think my form over the last six months has been really good. I haven’t missed a cut in, I don’t know how long – maybe ten events. I have been playing solid golf so if you keep putting yourself in contention on the Sunday afternoon and knocking on the door, sooner or later you’ll knock one off.”

And Sim has every chance of doing that this week at the Moonah Links course, one of which he has extensive knowledge courtesy of his time at the AIS. Sim spent two years at the Victorian Institute which allowed him to frequent the Moonah Links course.

“I’m really looking forward to it. It’s one of my goals to try to win this tournament, I’ve played a lot of golf here and I know the course really well,” he said. “It’s one of those golf courses where you need local knowledge to play good golf.”

Sim heads out today in the afternoon groups alongside Victorian Scott Laycock and South African Garth Mulroy at 12:20pm. Also in the field this week are Australian luminaries Craig Parry, Peter Senior, Peter Fowler and Peter O’Malley with New Zealand’s David Smail, recent Cellarbrations Victorian PGA Champion Andre Stolz, Johnnie Walker Classic winner Danny Lee and defending champion Ewan Porter.

The 156 player field of US and Australasian players also boasts seven US PGA TOUR winners including Australasians Phil Tataurangi and Grant Waite and winner of the season opening Panama Digicel Championship American Vance Veazey.

Round one of the Moonah Classic, the first of the three swing Nationwide Tour co-sanctioned events is currently underway with players taking to the course at 7am (see attached draw).

Entry to the Moonah Classic is Free with all day parking at the venue $5.00.

The Moonah Classic will be telecast in Australia on TEN HD:

• Saturday Feb 28 – 1-5pm Ten & Ten HD AEDT (LIVE)
• Sunday March 1- 1-5pm – Ten & Ten HD AEDT (LIVE)

Source – PGA Tour