The European Tour has headed down under, with cards on the line in Australia at the ISPS Handa Perth International. At the culmination of this week, the top 110 players in the Race to Dubai money list will secure their playing cards for 2014. Those who finish outside of that will have to overcome the dreaded hurdle of qualifying school if they wish to return to the Tour next season. Peter Hedblom is one of those players in danger, but he illustrated that he won’t go down without a fight, as he opened with an opening round of 68 at the Lake Karrinyup Golf Club to share the first round lead.
The experienced Swede, who has three European Tour wins to his name, has made 10 trips to Q-School in the past, including last year when he successfully qualified for the Tour at PGA Catalunya. However, the 43-year-old has endured a difficult season, and finds himself at 179th in the Race to Dubai coming into this event. Having made six birdies and two bogeys on the stunning Australian layout, which had been adorned with beautiful spring sunshine, Hedblom shares the lead alongside home favourites James Nitties and Clint Rice, with South Korea’s Jin Jeong also at 4-under after the opening day.
Being so far down the money list, Hedblom is well aware that he needs to remain around the summit of the leaderboard at the culmination of this event if he is to secure his status for next season. There is perhaps no greater pressure in professional golf than the psychological squeeze on players who are trying to secure their careers.
“I'm so far back I need a win or to finish second really,” said Hedblom, whose best finish this season was a tie for 26th in Wales.
”You have nothing to hold back; you just have to go for everything. You're not happy to finish third or fourth or fifth or sixth or tenth, just play as good as you can.
”The tension is nothing really. Today it felt like any tournament - if I will be leading playing the last day, then maybe I'll feel the tension, but right now it's just one round out of four. It's good to at least have a chance to do it.
”The game is there, you just need a little bit of confidence.”
Jin Jeong can also take confidence from his opening day effort, after a he chipped in for eagle on the 18th (his ninth hole of the round). The 23-year-old won the prestigious Amateur Championship in 2010, and now resides in Melbourne, Australia. He would go on to be the leading amateur in the Open Championship at St Andrews, finishing in an impressive tie for 14th, but success in the professional ranks has been harder to come by. However, having played on the Challenge Tour this year, Jeong has also already secured progression into the second stage of qualifying school. However, a victory here would put all of those worries to rest.
“It's only the first day and still three rounds to go and plenty of great players out here, so you never know what's going to happen,” said Jeong.
”I’ve just got to do what I'm doing and just keep hitting good shots and hopefully that's good enough.”
American star Dustin Johnson is headlining the field in Perth, and the seven-time winner on the PGA Tour got off to a strong start. Coming into the week as the pre-tournament favourite, Johnson would make six birdies in his opening round of 69 that places him just a shot off the lead at this early stage. Afterwards, the 29-year-old was understandably satisfied with his day.
“I played pretty well,” said the 29-year-old. “I missed a couple short putts, but other than that, I hit it pretty well.”
Alongside Johnson is another Swede in peril, this time in the form of Fredrik Andersson Hed, who, at 130th in the Race to Dubai, requires a good week to secure his card for next season.
The defending champion, America’s Bo Van Pelt, also got off to a solid start, with three birdies and a solitary bogey all adding up to an opening round effort of 70 which has the 38-year-old in a tie for 13th.