MILDURA golfer Sam Smythe is in the final stages of training as he braces for three consecutive weekends of invitational golf, culminating in the Victorian Open.
And it will be the all-abilities golfer’s first major tournaments since recovering from a knee complaint sustained in November, which kept him off the fairways for eight weeks.
Smythe will play in the Webex Players Series All-Abilities events – in conjunction with leading professionals, who take on elite amateurs – in Rosebud this weekend and at Cobram the following week.
Following that, he will head to 13th Beach Golf Course in Barwon Heads for the state open on February 8 and 9.
“The next three weeks are busy but I am going to enjoy it and hopefully I can do well,” Smythe said.
“It was a bit frustrating not playing for eight weeks but my physio Mitch Rogerson has me tuned up for the weekend.
“I just want to be competitive and have two good rounds, and I’d be pretty happy with that.”
Smythe’s handicap has slipped out to 15 in recent times, but he was confident he could rein it in again after his injury layoff.
The 45-year-old is currently ranked 30 in Australia, with the system ranking the top golfers with disability on the basis of their average performance in eligible events over a rolling cycle of the previous two years.
Having played golf for just over eight years, and his first Webex event just last year, Smythe said overcoming nerves was still a challenge as he eyes improving on his 2023 bronze at the Special Olympics golf tournament later this year.
Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organisation for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
“It’s good to play in these events, but come Saturday morning I get a bit nervous,” he said.
“(Caddy) Mark Woodhouse tries to keep me calm once I get away from the crowds.
“Hopefully playing in these three events will put me in good stead for the Special Olympics.”
