Rick Kulacz: Back In Form

BY Anthony Powter | 27 Jul 2009

The first half of the 2009 Asian Tour by Rick Kulacz’s standards hasn’t been that spectacular and was a far cry from his rookie year in 2008, where the Western Australian collected his maiden tour win as a professional at the Brunei Open.

A few years earlier, the talented 24-year-old collected the 2006 NSW Open title as an amateur. Kulacz was then rewarded a few weeks later by Australian Open tournament organisers when was paired with one of his golfing idols, Greg Norman, for the opening two rounds. At the time he had just announced his move to professional ranks and had signed with the global IMG management group.

Ten months on tour in Asia resulted in his first professional victory at the Brunei Open. As a rookie Kulacz could not have asked for a much better start.

A peerless bunker shot on the first play-off hole for birdie to defeat Chinese Taipei’s Lu Wen-teh ensured that Kulacz’s play-off record stood at 2-0 and in the process he collected the win in Brunei and the US$47,550 winner’s cheque along with a two year exemption on the Asian Tour.

In stark contrast to those early days on tour, Kulacz has missed a number of cuts in Asia over the last six to eight months mostly due to issues with his putting.

He returned back to Australia in early July to work on his game and regain the form which he knew was always there. A new coach and and a new approach towards his game has him ready to return to Asia to seriously compete.

“I’m feeling really confident going back to Asia,” says Kulacz.

“Obviously the first half of the year was not anywhere near what I expected and to the level that I want to play at. I’ve spent the last few months working hard trying to get ready for this last half. I’m looking forward to putting in a good performance for the rest of the year.”

The win twelve months ago at the Brunei Open had opened doors for Kulacz, although he is the first to admit that he has not taken full advantage of those opportunities.

“At the time it gave me all the exemptions for the next few years,” remarks Kulacz.

“It also game me the co-sanctioned events for this year, which I have not really taken advantage of, yet it gave me the confidence to know that I can play well at that level and now my focus is to get to that next level.”

Kulacz ultimately wants to ply his trade in Europe then look towards the US. It is not that he discounts the importance of the Asian Tour, rather sees his game more suited to playing in Europe.

“I’ll be going to European Q-School and looking to get through and playing next year as well as a few Asian events. Both are great tours and I feel that to get my game to that next level, I need some exposure playing in Europe.”

As a three year old, who one night had an asthma attack and could not sleep, so instead stayed up watching the British Open on television and got the golfing bug, Kulacz has come a long way. He has being hooked on the game ever since he was nine, when he joined his first golf club in West Australia, following a passion which no one else in his family had.

The rest is history, at 15 he became the youngest member of the West Australian Senior State Team. In 2001, Kulacz burst onto the junior golfing scene, winning the Australian Junior Championship, the IFJC World Junior Championship and the Jack Newton International. His amateur career included winning the South Australian Invitational, Dunes Medal and Federal Amateur and Kulacz’s one international title came at the 2007 Scratch Players Championship in California.

Talking with Kulacz this week he is confident about his game and where his future lies.

“I’m starting to strike the ball well,” he says.

“Everything is starting to come together and I’m really looking to it. I’ve no reason to doubt myself about my game and I’m confident about moving to the next level. I’ve fixed my putting and my swing feels ready to go back on tour.”

Despite the first half of the year in Asia being disappointing for Kulacz, the groundwork is there. His putting has been letting him down of late and he’s only just been missing he mark on making the cuts despite having minor technicalities, which he’s now confident have been addressed.

“I’ve usually been a good putter,” says Kulacz who is currently 40th on the Asian Tour money list.

“I’ve fixed that and I am now rolling the ball much better and I’m really looking forward to getting back out there as I feel the form is there.”

Last week on the Asian Tour at the Indonesia President Invitational, Kulacz fired closing rounds of two 66’s to record a top-15 finish in one of the strongest fields this season to play in Asia.

The putter was working again and Kulacz heads to this week’s Brunei Open to defend his title knowing the form has returned and all he hard work back in Melbourne was certainly worth it.

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