Galleries were large again on Friday, this one encircling Rory on the 18th green.

It seemed like it was ‘Moving Day, A Day Early” to me for the second round on Friday at the Australian Open at the Australian Golf Club. American Jamie Lovemark set a new course record 6-under 65 in the morning moments after Adam Scott posted the now old course record of 66. Lefty Australian Greg Chalmers would match Scott’s 66, combine it with his opening par 71 score, to lead by one stroke at the half way point over a foursome of Rory McIlroy, Adam Crawford, amateur Todd Sinnott, and Conrad Shindler. First round leader Jordan Spieth slipped to a 1-over par 72 and is another stroke back. Scott is three strokes back of Chalmers and two strokes back of Rory trying to avenge the loss to Rory in last year’s Open at Royal Sydney Golf Club. The theme of the tournament is “Bring it on,” the “it” being the showdown between Rory and Adam. Other than Geoff Ogilvy being eight strokes back, the stage is set for a dramatic finish, albeit one day early.

Putting contest in the Emirates tent!

In the spirit of the day I was out and about moving around the impressive grounds of this continent country’s namesake golf club. In between watching the Adam Scott/Jordan Spieth/Nick Cullen in the morning and the Rory McIlroy/Geoff Ogilvy/Matt Jones in the afternoon I checked out the Exhibitor Village and found lots of interesting stories.

I started off in the Emirates, the title sponsor’s booth. Emirates is an airline based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It is the largest airline in the Middle East, operating nearly 3,400 flights per week from its hub at Dubai International Airport, to more than 142 cities in 78 countries across six continents according to Wikipedia. They had an engaging putting game that required skill, concentration and confidence since it was timed. The object was to putt a ball into each of the holes and the challenge was enhanced by the curved slopes of the putting surface. Playing was a lot of fun and I managed to finish 12th and earn a sleeve of balls. The PR firm behind the innovative booth is the Pulse Group out of London, Dublin and Dubai.

With Stephanie Papalitsas in the Kids Only Clubhouse…

Next up, as I circumvented the village, I was drawn in by kids chipping into an inflated target with holes, to a combination tent of My Golf, Kids Only Clubhouse, FootGolf, and SpeedGolf Australia.  My Golf, Kids Only Clubhouse is Australia’s national junior introductory program to develop and promote participation in golf. A 10 week introductory program to the sport, the MyGolf program is the major driver of junior golf participation in Australia. The end result being, I guess, is the twelve competitors in the field of the Australian Open designated as part of the ‘Golf Australia Squad.’

Ready, set, going to play Speed Golf with Carly…

SpeedGolf Australia, supported by Golf Australia is ‘Everything that Golf isn’t but can be… fast, creative, instinctive, aerobic and family friendly.’ I like to walk and play golf quickly with similar minded people so maybe this is for me? I did learn that Ireland’s Rob Hogan recently beat 24 professional speed golfers to take the Speedgolf world championship at Bandon Dunes in Oregon. Hogan jumped out to the midway lead on Saturday with a 77 in 39 minutes and 31 seconds (39:31). He followed up with a 79 in 41:29 and had the fastest time both days. The scoring format of Speedgolf is total strokes, plus total minutes and seconds it takes the player to complete his or her round. Hogan’s final Speedgolf score was 236.55. Interesting for sure.

With Ross Baker, an authentic clubmaker and member of the Australian Golf Heritage Society.

Footgolf Australia was nowhere to be found and I suspect they were afoot out on a golf course somewhere. FootGolf is the result of combining the popular sports of football (soccer) and golf. The rules largely correspond to the rules of golf.​ This game is played, for the most part, without the supervision of a referee. The game depends on the integrity of the player to show consideration for other players and to abide by the rules. Would I would miss the act of hitting something (a ball) with something else (a stick)? Sounds interesting and worth a try too!

I then came across a booth and a man who dotted an ‘i’ and crossed a ‘t’ from my trip out to Tassie (Tasmania, the island state of Australia) and Barnbougle Golf Links Resort where I came across a fabulous collection of hickory clubs and modern PING clubs in the clubhouse at Lost Farm. The booth was the Australian Golf Heritage Society and the man is Ross Baker. Look for an interesting video on this authentic club maker. Ross is a combination of everyone I ever met in the Golf Collectors Society in America. What an informative treat to meet the guy I wanted to meet!

With James Gribble of Empower Golf, who I met on the 18th watching Rory finish his round.

Watching Rory finish with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole I came across James Gribble, the founder of Empower Golf—for golfers of all abilities. James was on the Aussie team that placed 3rd at the World Disabled Golf Championships in Japan in October. His vision is to facilitate and promote golf for Australians of all abilities. I enjoyed my time with James and his Aunt Jackie. As we watched Rory finish a stretch of eight holes without a birdie but still score 3-under ( an eagle, four birdies and three bogeys) I was reminded that it isn’t how but how many in golf. Ditto that for life. Thank you James!

Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth, Adam Scott all in the mix but Greg Chalmers leading the Emirates Australian Open at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney… check out what I found and who I met outside the ropes on Friday…   (Facebook Link, Andy Reistetter, 11/28/14)

Putting awards presentation with Emirates stewardesses Joanna (L) and Christina (R).

Little Rory (sitting) with dad Kevin (green shirt) watching Big Rory hit his approach shot into the 17th green.

James with his Aunt Jackie…

The golf course, personally designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus, at The Australian Golf Club is a ‘BIG’ golf course, not unlike one of his other masterpieces at home at Muirfield Village in Ohio.

More on that and the experience of playing it two weeks ago and the first round of the Australian Open later on…

Here are some pics from the excitement of arriving at “The Oz,”  I am feeling a bit like Dorothy in total wonder and amazement of being Down Under and at the second professional golf event of the Australian Trifecta of the Masters, the Open and the PGA Championship!

WOW, what an exciting Thanksgiving Day in Australia!   (Facebook Link, Andy Reistetter, 11/27/14)

Happy Thanksgiving Up Yonder! Definitely missing being with friends and family! Gratitude is universal in our world but Thanksgiving is definitely American. Lucky to celebrate in a way for two days being Down Under. Tragic and sad story here in Sydney with the death of a 25-year old batsman professionally playing the national game of Australia. Puts life in perspective… thankful for and enjoying today… off to The Australian Golf Club for the second round of the Emirates Australian Open… Happy Turkey Day Up Yonder in America! (-:   (Facebook Link, Andy Reistetter, 11/27/14)

Rory McIlroy teeing off the first hole, playing with Geoff Ogilvy and Matt Jones. Adam Scott is off in the afternoon with Jordan Spieth and last week’s Masters Champion Nick Cullen.

With the Divine Kathie Shearer, Australian Golf’s Ultimate Hostess in the Media Center!

With Australia’s youngest and brightest commentator, and a true sportsman, Luke Elvy. Only the second person (with Ian Baker Finch last week at the Masters) that I have met in Australia that I knew previously!

Nick Cullen, in the Gold Jacket, with the 2014 Masters trophy! Photo Credit: SMP Images.

Congratulations to Nick Cullen, the Champion of the 2014 Australian Masters at Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne. Nobody came close to Cullen’s 66-69 weekend performance at the first of Australia’s Big Three golfing competitions. But several golfers, namely Adam Scott (68), Josh Younger (69) and James Nitties (70), came close to matching his 9-under par 279 tournament score. Scott, four strokes back of third round leader Paul Sparg0 to start the day, had a six-birdie day, just what he needed to win, but it was offset by two bogeys on Nos. 7 and 10. Younger, three back, birdied two of the last three holes, including the difficult 18th, but ran out of holes. Nitties, tied with Cullen to start the day, played steady with three birdies and one bogey, needed one more birdie down the stretch and ended up parring the last six holes. Surprisingly, Nitties’ playing partner Geoff Ogilvy shot a Sunday 75 and did not contend. In the end, it was Cullen’s dramatic sand save on the last, that was the difference and led to the biggest win of his career.

Paul Spargo, walking with his caddie, unfortunately did not march to victory on Sunday at the Masters. Photo Credit: SMP Images

The final pairing of third round leader Paul Spargo (73) and joint first and second round leader Michael Wright (80) did not seem like the pairing either wanted or needed after some difficulty with slow play and being put on the clock during Saturday’s third round. While Spargo was three-putting for bogey on No. 10, Cullen was going birdie-birdie on Nos. 11 and 12 to take a two stroke lead that he never fully relinquished. Rhein Gibson had the Sunday best round of 65 which tied amateur Lucas Herbert’s Saturday round for low tournament round. Gibson had three bogeys, eight birdies and an eagle to finish three strokes back.

Nick Cullen and Lucas Herbert congratulating one another after a pairing that worked for them both! Phote Credit: SMP Images

I walked the back nine starting with the final Spargo/Wright group and then catching up with the Cullen/Herbert (a) on the par-3 13th hole. I went ahead to see Ogilvy and Nitties par the par-5 14th, the hole that Gene Sarazen, who won the 1936 Australian Open at Metro, labelled one of the best holes in the world. I waited to watch Cullen three-putt for par while Herbert pitched up and made the putt for birdie to get within four strokes. Another Cullen three-putt for bogey on No. 15 and a Herbert birdie on the short par-4 16th narrowed the gap to two strokes between the two playing partners. By this time Scott had posted his 8-under total and Nitties and Younger in the two groups followed suit. Both Cullen and Herbert parred the par-4 17th, Cullen from a divot in the right rough. The young amateur’s final undoing was the 18th which he double bogeyed after driving left and being forced to chip out to the fairway. Interestingly, Scott’s double bogey on the 18th (his 9th hole played) on Thursday, his only one of the tournament, looking back seems quite  pivotal. Of course, the final pivot point and his stepping up to victory was Cullen’s long bunker save to tap-in distance of the hole. As it should, the 18th at Metro, provided a lot of excitement during Masters week. However there were four people, who would have liked to had a chance to produce a little bit more.

Nick Cullen’s champion interview moderated by PGA Australia’s Olivia McMillan.

Nick Cullin’s champion interview in the media center was quite interesting. Here is a guy that has been missing out by a stroke and now all of a sudden wins his biggest prize by a stroke. What changed? His twin brother Dan, a former Australian cricketer who has bowled to the best batsmen in the world and got them out, was the catalyst with some good advice after Nick lost a big chunk of change but still tied for the win with a three-putt on the last in a recent pro-am. “He (Dan) said it didn’t matter, you won and that’s the main thing. You’ve just got to win. So after that,” explained Nick. “it probably took me a week or two to realise that he was right, but after that, I realised it wasn’t about the money or anything else. It was about trying to win. That’s why you should play a sport; you want to win and you want to be your best. Since then, I’ve just been trying to win. And to win the Australian Masters is pretty awesome.”

What does Nick Cullin love about golf? “Probably the thing I love more than anything about golf, it’s up to you. It’s only you. If you play well, if you work hard, you think the right things, you do the right things, you get results. There’s no one else that can do it. It’s up to you. No one can carry you through.”

Watching him play the back nine I was impressed how he hung in there especially after three-putting two holes in a row, one (the 14th) for par and the next (the 15th) for bogey. I thought his pairing was good and the amateur’s mini-run at the end was critical to Cullin maintaining the one stroke advantage and ultimately turning it into a win. So I asked him this question:

The Metropolitan Golf Club was a formidable test of golf with her well bunkered greens sharp edges.

Q. After the two 3 putts, one for par and one for bogey, three holes to go, what were you thinking? Were you looking at the score boards, and how important was your pairing (with amateur Lucas Herbert)?
NICK CULLEN: He played great down the stretch. He’s a great kid and he was really good. He was sort of saying, let’s make some birdies and sort of encouraging I guess, and we were sort of giving each other little fist pumps and everything all day. So he was really good to play with, really enjoyed it.
The two 3 putts, I don’t know how long it was, like 16 or 17 feet (short) on the par 5, hit two good shots. Sort of miss hit the putt a fraction. Hit a really good second putt, didn’t go in. That’s golf.
The next hole, hit two really good shots. Same thing, the wind picked up, it stopped at the front and I thought I hit a good first putt. Came up short. Thought I hit a decent second putt and miss read it a little bit, didn’t hit it quite hard enough. But that’s just golf. I made a bunch of putts earlier and putted really well, and nothing changed. Didn’t quite hit it hard enough or whatever. But I’m still putting great.
So, you’ve just got to remember that. You’ve got to stay in the process. You can’t change it once it’s done. When I won the Indonesia Open, I was leading by four, and then I made a triple bogey on the 14th in my last round. So I guess there’s not much I can do that would be worse than that. And in that situation, I just sort of said, well, you’re still tied for the lead and you’re still playing well. There’s no reason why you can’t win it. Was lucky enough to win there and it was the same sort of thing here. Had a couple of 3 putts and it’s not ideal, but you just trust your process and hit good shots coming in, you’ve still got a chance and that’s all you can do.

With 2014 Australian Masters Champion Nick Cullen.

Experience, determination, perseverance and a touch of luck brought the Australian Masters’ trophy to Nick Cullen. He joins a lot of great players who have won this tournament including the last four winners—Tiger Woods, Stuart Appleby, Ian Poulter and Adam Scott. That’s why I am calling Nick Cullen, Melbourne’s Metro Masters Man!

Up next is the Australian Open this week at The Australian Club in Sydney, followed by the Australian PGA Championship at Royal Pines Resort on the Gold Coast, south of Brisbane.

My nine nights in Melbourne have been wonderful, especially the socializing and networking at the Masters tournament. Here are some more highlights:

Pam and Andy, still the smiling Mr. & Mrs. Will Call on the final day of the 2014 Masters.

With IMG’s Annie Ryan (L) and Cox Marketing’s Sally Wright (R). Always smiling and welcoming to the Media Center.

With Georgie Cox of Cox Marketing Solutions who did a great job running the Media Center at the Masters!

With Mark Hayes, Media Manager for Golf Australia.

With Olivia McMillan (L) and Bronwyn Slatter (R), Communications Coordinators with the PGA Australia.

With Golf Link’s Rod Morri (hat), Craig Fordham (Orange) & Joey Ratcliiffe (R).

Golf Link show with host Rod Morri (L) and analyst Bruce Young (R). Two great guys and boy do they KNOW golf!

The question was answered- Nick Cullen!

Michael Wright faltered a little bit in Round 3 but is playing in the final group on Sunday with a good chance to win. Photo Credit: SMP Images.

Traditionally, Saturday is moving day for US PGA TOUR tournaments, no difference ‘Down Under’ on the PGA TOUR Australasia at the Australian Masters competition. There are lots of other differences like the next day 16-hour time difference, the long days of sunshine (Melbourne sunrise at 5:54 am, sunset at 8:18 pm), and the different terminology when you absentmindedly drive on the wrong side of the road (that’s a bugger), but when it comes to golf, the next-to-last day is the day to make the move to position oneself for victory come the final round on Sunday. Unfortunately movement goes in both directions, up and down the leader board.

Looking back to the four first round leaders who came out of the gate (Melbourne Cup terminology, similar to the Kentucky Derby), Michael Wright has fared the best after three rounds, though his two-stroke lead going into Saturday’s third round is now a one-stroke deficit. The other three first round leaders failed to reverse second round deficits with third round surpluses—Steven Bowditch (67-75-73), amateur Todd Sinott (67-71-77) and Stephan Allan (67-73-79). Both Geoff Ogilvy (T6, three strokes back) and Adam Scott (T8, four strokes back) shot 71 and are still in contention. All three Americans are under par through three rounds with Zack Blair (70-75-69) and Boo Weekley (72-72-70) together at T24, six strokes back and Kyle Stanley (69-73-73) one more stroke back at T32.

Paul Spargo leads the Masters going into the final round, can he remain steady and win? Photo Credits: SMP Images.

The biggest mover in the right direction was amateur Lucas Herbert who posted a tournament low round of 6-under 66 about the same time the leaders were teeing off. Like the U.S. Masters, the Australian Masters seems to showcase up and coming amateurs. But it was Paul Spargo’s steady one-under par 71 playing in the final group with Wright that earned him the  lead going into Sunday. The final twosome for Saturday will stay the same for tomorrow’s Sunday round. With Scott and Ogilvy in the hunt it is sure to be an interesting second nine at Metropolitan Golf Club on Sunday afternoon in the Australian Masters!

With Natalina Morelli (L) and Linda Higgins (R) of Blitz Publications & Multi-Media Group.

While Saturday was moving day for the professional golfers, it was socialization and networking day for me with a unique, one-time opportunity to get to know some of my media mates in the media center and out in the exhibitors’ village near the clubhouse. I was drawn into the tent of Blitz Publications & Multi-Media Group when I saw the Golf Magazine motif and met Natalina Morelli, Group Manager – Marketing & Operations, and Linda Higgins, Marketing & events Manager. They are Australia’s #1 health, fitness and sports lifestyle publishing and multi-media company. Golf Magazine is a sister publication of the USA-based Time Inc. Golf Magazine and targets the more than 1.3 million golfers in Australia. No Golf Channel in Australia but there is Golf Magazine!

With Gary Lisbon, golf travel specialist, photographer and author of Great Golf Down Under 1 & 2.

Right across the MBGreen (Mercedes Benz putting competition for the 2015 Mercedes Trophy) on the other side of the Exhibitors’ Village I found GOLF Select, a golf holiday specialist and organizer for corporate golf days which are big in Australia. I met Gary Lisbon, the owner and managing director, with a passion for golf course photography. Gary’s latest initiative has been the recent release of Great Golf Down Under 2 which is a sequel to the sold out original edition. The first book, published in 2008, was 225 pages, 250 images from 75 golf courses. Book No. 2 has 304 pages, 400 images, from 122 golf courses. All ‘Down Under’ in Australia and New Zealand which is where I am and where I am going! Gary, my newest hero, has played nearly all of the world’s top 100 golf courses.

With Matt Ridge and pointing to The Kinloch Club which is where I hope to be celebrating the New Year of Golf!

GOLFSelect is a golf holiday specialist, as their website states, and their relationships with Australia’s best golf courses, plus their extensive international network of golf travel partners, allows them to organise unique and never-to-be-forgotten golf holidays both within and outside Australia. I was drawn to the picture of a group of Americans at The Kinloch Club on the North Island of New Zealand. As ‘Journey Fate’ would have it I met Matthew Ridge, GOLF Select’s Golf Holiday Manager who had just returned from New Zealand with the group in the picture! In fact he took the picture! Since mid-December and the start of the “Golf Journey to New Zealand” is not too far away I was very happy to converse with Matt about the GOLF Select trip and golfing opportunities in New Zealand!

With Brendan James, we tried mugging his cover shot but he blinked first and looked at the camera. Or maybe the picture was taken too early?

One of the nicest guys I met at The Australian Masters is Brendan James, the editor of Golf Australia, the magazine of Golf Australia, the organization which is the governing body for golf in Australia. Like America’s U.S.G.A., they conduct the country’s national open tournament, the Australian Open which is next week in Sydney at The Australian Golf Club. GA manages the Rules of Golf and the national handicap system. They are engaging people and growing the game we love.  Their customer is the 1.25 million golfers in Australia with a third of them being golf club members and the other two thirds casual golfers playing mainly public golf courses, of which there are many Down Under in Australia! Brendan’s December cover highlighting next week’s Adam Scott vs. Rory McIlroy rematch is awesome. Last year, Rory beat Adam down the stretch to avert Scott from winning the Australian Trifecta- the Masters, PGA & Open.

What an exciting day on Saturday at the Australian Masters at Metropolitan Golf Club in Melbourne! I can’t wait until tomorrow to see who wins and gets the gold jacket at this prestigious tournament! And of course I hope to continue to socialize and network as the “Golf Journey to Australia & New Zealand” continues into the New Year of 2015! Getting excited about that too! Happy Thanksgiving America!

http://www.andygolftraveldiary.com/round-3-moving-day-at-t…/

Here’s my Saturday, Round 3 post for the Australian Masters at the Metropolitan Golf Club… a little behind in my posts… it’s already Day No. 25 of the ‘Journey to Australia’ and I have only posted to Day No. 9… having a great time and learning so much about golf and life in Australia!   (Facebook Link, Andy Reistetter, 11/23/14)

Three of my volunteer friends- Barry, Doug & Andy (Pam went home early) signaling Day 3 of the Masters!

With Boo Weekley who was hanging out in the Exhibitor Village after Round 3.

Boo Weekley hanging out with Stephen Bowditch and having a friendly chat with Rules Official No. 5.