Ewan Porter: Second Time Lucky
BY Anthony Powter | 03 Mar 2008
Ewan Porter has played professional golf for over five years and during that period the gifted 25 year-old from Cronulla in Sydney’s south-eastern suburbs, has experienced the full gambit of the game’s highs and lows. In 2007, Porter hardly touched a club, distracted and to a degree, frustrated, with where his game was and what he was doing about it.
He’d only played a handful of tournaments and was spending more time off rather than on the golf course. The lure of the American lifestyle and letting off some built up steam, which had accumulated with years of travel and playing, was proving too much of a distraction. For the first time in his life, golf was taking a back seat.
In hindsight, this ‘unwinding period’, was probably what Porter needed. Upon returning to Australia late in the year to play the NSW Open, his first main tournament for some time, Porter noticed his game had new life.
He’d go onto made the cut in the next four Australasian tournaments, the MasterCard Masters, the Australian PGA Championship, the Australian Open and the New Zealand Open, even playing into contention in some. A change appeared to be in the air and the rest is history.
“It was a huge difference playing well and the turning point for me,” said Porter.
“For the first time in my career, I’d been able to get amongst the leaders. It’s like I’d finally stepped up to the plate and that I belong out there.”
Porter’s maiden professional victory last month at the AU$850,000 Moonah Classic was another life changing experience, but of far more significance.
Not only did the victory put at ease a few demons of the past and settled a few scores and promises, it has injected hope, into what otherwise was an uncertain dilemma of what Porter was going to do for the remaining of the year.
He’d crafted the round of his life, with a 66 on the final day in a display of faultless golf, on arguably one of the toughest and most testing golf courses the Nationwide Tour will play this season. The winning margin equalled the third largest in the 19-year history of the Nationwide Tour.
The Moonah Classic was dubbed the tournament “where dreams are made”, since its co-sanctioning status with America’s Nationwide Tour offers a pathway to the riches and fame of the PGA Tour. In Porter’s case, this theme could not have been truer, as he springboarded his career with securing full playing privileges for the next two years on the Nationwide Tour.
He now had a tour to play and the ability to structure his schedule and fill the otherwise blank dates, which existed before Moonah.
“I had no idea what I was going to do,” remarked Porter.
“That’s one of the best results of winning a co-sanctioned event, it’s now very different with where I can play and it’s like I’ve been given another chance out there.”
Three years ago on the Nationwide Tour and it was tough for Porter. At the time he’d only conditional status, which limited his starts particularly in the bigger events. He did not play well and was unable to retain playing privileges. He was forced to fall back to playing mini-tours and endure the dreaded Monday qualifiers on the Nationwide Tour. It was tough.
“Last time I was there, it was a week to week proposition, and I could not map out a proper schedule. That makes it hard, as you’ve no certainty with starts and you are forever travelling to get to Monday qualifiers. It’s a hard grind and it takes its toll on you.”
How things have changed for Porter, since that fateful weekend at Moonah last month.
Despite the set back of falling ill during the second round of the Johnnie Walker Classic last week in India, which forced his withdrawal from the event, Porter has the full year ahead to position himself.
“I got really sick in the stomach in India, which was a real set back,” remarked Porter upon returning to Sydney yesterday.
“I can now schedule my tournaments, not just on the Nationwide Tour, but I’m scheduled to play The Open Championship and the Alfred Dunhill Links in Europe later in the year, so there’s a lot going on.”
“One of my goals is to also take out the Australasian Order of Merit as that gets you starts in two majors and a good result at the Johnnie Walker would have helped.”
Porter enjoyed a belated celebratory BBQ yesterday in Sydney, eager to catch up with mates, before heading next week to Scottsdale, Arizona where he’ll be based with three Aussies, including fellow professional Steve Dartnall. They’ll practice at the TPC Scottsdale, venue of the FBR Open on the PGA Tour and part of the Tournament Players Club network, which provides Tour players with modern facilities for training and practice.
The Chitimacha Louisiana Open, starting 27 March in Broussard, Louisiana, will be Porter’s return appearance on the Nationwide Tour.
“I know what to expect this time,” said Porter.
“Last time, I was not ready for it. Emotionally and mentally, it was draining. The difference with my game now is the ability to avoid racking up big numbers on my card. Previously, I’d make a big number and that would cost me. At Moonah, I managed my game and kept it going, that’s the difference.”
All six previous winners of the Australian co-sanctioned tournament (previously the Jacob’s Creek Open) have gone on to graduate later that season to the PGA Tour. Upon graduation, none have managed to retain their main tour playing status. Porter hopes to change that.
With US$149,000 in earnings, Porter has 26 Nationwide Tour events remaining, to secure his immediate future in golf. A finish in the top 25 of the money list at season’s end will automatically promote Porter to the PGA Tour. That’s the objective, but there’s plenty of golf in between.
This time Porter is wiser and up to to the challenges he’ll face on tour. Naturally, he’ll go easy now on the gym workouts, especially the morning of a tournament, that also comes with experience and Porter does not want to let any opportunity pass, now that he’s at the doorstep of playing the PGA Tour and fulfilling his goals.
