Andrew McKenzie: Seoul'd on Korea

BY Anthony Powter | 21 Nov 2008

It was five years ago where Andrew McKenzie, an amateur at the time, narrowly missed claiming the 2003 NSW Open championship as he finished a stoke behind fellow Federal Golf Club member, Craig Carmichael. He may not have won the tournament, but those watching at Macquarie Links believed there was a star in the making.

Injury would then plague McKenzie for the next two or so years with the constant strain of practice wreaking havoc with his back and his knees, to an extent that it kept him out of the game for eleven months. McKenzie went off the golfing radar into a type of semi-recluse, as he considered his playing career and whether he could return to professional golf.

Andrew McKenzie Audio Interview

Even to this day he is mindful of the pain of injury, yet continues to remain positive as to how his game is evolving and where he’s heading. He has returned to professional golf but it’s in a way many would consider to be outside the square.

The Korean Tour has seen McKenzie return back into the spotlight and kick-start his career so much so that for the next five years he no longer needs to worry about playing privileges following two wins on the

“I’d heard from other Aussies that Korea was an option and that the tour was relatively well run, so I decided to try and get my card there after playing the main Australian tour events earlier in the year,” said McKenzie this week back in Melbourne.

Like many young professionals, McKenzie has had his share of lows with no tour status earlier in his career and no ability to formulate a decent schedule without considering overseas tours. He was left with no alternative other than to consider his options and the Korean Tour was one.

“After returning from injury I wanted to ease back into the game carefully and Korea seemed at the time the right choice.”

That decision back in early 2008 would ultimately deliver the goods, giving the 26-year-old the start he was seeking and the confidence to overcome those niggles with his fitness and his game. McKenzie is currently 7th on the Korean Order of Merit.

In just three months on tour in Korea, McKenzie has banked over AUD$150,000 after winning twice, most recently last week’s Korean PGA Championship in a sudden death playoff with a birdie on the first hole.

“Originally I needed a tour to play so as to get back on my feet, so to speak, and Korea was an option. Actually, it has now worked out quite well and it’s been a bit more than that for me.”

Back in September, McKenzie won the Samsung Benest Open and following the Korean PGA win last week, he now enjoys the benefit a five year exemption on the Korean Tour.

“I’m starting to build a profile there and it’s a tour that I feel comfortable playing. I’ve some opportunities if I commit playing there, which I find more about in a few weeks. But I’m very keen to continue to play there over the next few years.”

The settling in process with the Korean Tour was not without its challenges, with the dreaded internal out-of-bounds, as well as the obvious cultural differences.

“If you go to Korea with the playing mindset of shooting the lights out of the courses, which is the attitude some players have in Australia, you get yourself into trouble,” says McKenzie.

“You have to play slightly different golf in Korea as there is so much punishment for missing a tee shot you virtually have your heart in your mouth each time you’re on a tee. You have to think a little more and at times pull your head in and play to the course.”

“It took me a little while to get used to that, but I know what to do now.”

In the five years, the Korean Tour has been strongly evolving, more and more international players are viewing the tour as a viable option. From all accounts the Korean Tour is going from strength to strength whilst others have faltered, no more so than the Australian Tour which continues to struggle to find sponsors and corporate interest in some events.

“I’m kind of lucky to have about six other Aussies and some pommy guys playing with me in Korea, as well as some Americans and we hang out together and have a lot of fun. The tour is well run with regular television coverage and strong corporate sponsorship. They’re a little golf nutty over there and it’s great for the game and the tournaments.”

McKenzie turned professional towards the end of 2004, played some pro-am events in Australia before gaining conditional status in 2006 on the Asian Tour. It was in Asia where he got injured and that set things back for him.

Last season in Australia he played with a medical exemption, focussing upon the main Australian Tour events, but his game was hampered by injury and the results didn’t flow.

“After last year’s season in Australia, I felt down with my game and wanted to leave the scene for a while. My mind was simply not there and I was feeling dejected with everything.”

A break from the game and a few pro-am’s earlier in this year, which included some wins, brought back the desire to compete and started McKenzie’s road to playing the Korean Tour.

“I decided to try and get my Korean Tour card after some positive results with the pro-am’s back home,” says McKenzie.

“Looking back I know that I’ve made the right decision.”

“I’ve got my twenty-five events for the year if I play well this Australian summer. The Korean Tour starts the end of March, just after the end of events here, so it fits quite well and I’m a bit lucky in that regard.”

McKenzie admits that he eventually wants to ply his trade in the US, however, recognises before that he needs to have his game ready and he sees his immediate future with the Korean Tour.

“I’m still learning and you always get asked the question about playing in the US.”

“At present I’m comfortable with having a schedule that combines well with the Australian Tour and it’s all panning out to work quite well. It was the start I needed and playing in Korea is something I’ve got to look forward to.”