Bowditch returns to US after Australian hiatus

BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2006 US Bank Championship | General | 25 Jul 2006

Steve Bowditch returns to the PGA Tour for this week’s US Bank Championship after several weeks back in Australia to rebuild his game and confidence.

After a brilliant season on the Nationwide Tour in 2005, Bowditch struggled through his first eleven starts on the PGA Tour, not making the weekend in any of the events and eventually he made the decision to head home to seek the assistance of those who know him best.

One of those is the head professional at Kooralbyn Golf Resort south of Brisbane, Barry West. Bowditch got to know West when he attended the Kooralbyn College’s golf programme there before turning professional and he and West have become the best of friends.

Bowditch has spent the last month or so at Kooralbyn playing golf and staying with West while he put things back on track and he now heads to the USPGA Tour once again. This time West will travel with Bowditch for the first few weeks of his return.

Bowditch had also turned to West two years ago after returning from the European Challenge Tour, again at a time when his game was in a state of disarray. Bowditch worked for West at Kooralbyn at that stage in the pro shop there and worked on his game before heading out on what would be more than twelve months of success on Queensland’s Sunshine Tour, the Australasian Tour and the Nationwide Tour.

Bowditch is expected to get at least another eight starts on the PGA Tour and it is hoped that his recent return to Kooralbyn will have a similar effect on the now 23 year old.

Photo – Anthony Powter