Kids help O’Hern overcome Open loss

as posted on TheWest

Professional golfer and almost Australian Open Champion Nick O’Hern visited Subiaco’s Ronald McDonald House today to provide the children some advice on the art of driving a club like a PGA champion.

The kids, for their part, seemed a little more interested in rolling the golf balls down the plastic slide in the playground with a satisfactory clanking sound than learning the delicate art of putting, but O’Hern didn’t seem too concerned.

The Perth-born champion is preparing for a charity round on Wednesday at Gosnells to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House, which provides accommodation for families of children who need medical treatment at Princess Margaret Hospital.

Many thought today would see O’Hern revelling in the role of Australian Open Champion, but a disappointing loss to Craig Parry on the weekend meant the title eluded him yet again.

“I played beautifully yesterday, unfortunately my putting just let me down there towards the end all credit to Craig Parry though he played very well,” O’Hern said.

“I’ve had some really good rounds in my career where I’ve thought I can’t really hit the ball much better and that was definitely one of them. The whole week I struck the ball fantastic but getting the ball in the hole was the problem once again.”

O’Hern spent much of the past year competing on the lucrative US golf circuit. He plans to take a month’s holiday after the Charity Pro Am on Wednesday before heading back to the US to continue competing.

He said he expects to play between 22 to 23 tournaments next year.

“The money we play for in the US is a little bit out of control but it’s a lot of fun over there and if you play well you get rewarded,” O’Hern said.

“I’ve had a good finish to the year. I seem to play well in the last event of the year - maybe it’s knowing I’m going to go on holiday.”

The Nick O’Hern Ronald McDonald House Charity Pro-Am will begin with a shotgun start at 12.30pm on Wednesday at the Gosnells Golf Club.

High Profile players will include Steve Collins and Stuart Beament.

BELLE TAYLOR

as posted on TheWest